Extreme rainfall

La Niña, Climate change, high exposure and vulnerability combined led to devastating floods in parts of Southern Africa

Since late December 2025, severe flooding has affected large parts of Mozambique, Eswatini, northeastern South Africa and Zimbabwe, killing more than 200 people (Al Jazeera, 2026), destroying more than 173,000 acres of crops (Sky News, 2026) and causing further widespread humanitarian and socioeconomic impacts in the affected countries. In Mozambique, more than 75,000 people across … Continue reading “La Niña, Climate change, high exposure and vulnerability combined led to devastating floods in parts of Southern Africa”

Unequal evidence and impacts, limits to adaptation: Extreme Weather in 2025

Introduction  Every December we are asked the same question: was it a bad year for extreme weather? And each year, the answer becomes more unequivocal: yes. Fossil fuel emissions continue to rise, driving global temperatures upward and fueling increasingly destructive climate extremes across every continent. Although 2025 was slightly cooler than 2024 globally, it was … Continue reading “Unequal evidence and impacts, limits to adaptation: Extreme Weather in 2025”

Increasing heavy rainfall and extreme flood heights in a warming climate threaten densely populated regions across Sri Lanka and the Malacca Strait

Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka. UNDP 2025. Eranga Jayawardena/AP Photo.

On 27 November, Cyclonic Storm Ditwah struck Sri Lanka with strong winds and very heavy rainfall, causing the worst flooding and landslides since the early 2000s (UN News, 2025). Cyclonic Storm Ditwah became the deadliest weather-related disaster since the 2004 tsunami. Meanwhile Indonesia, Malaysia and southern Thailand were experiencing persistent heavy rainfall, intensified by Cyclonic … Continue reading “Increasing heavy rainfall and extreme flood heights in a warming climate threaten densely populated regions across Sri Lanka and the Malacca Strait”

Heavy rainfall leading to widespread flooding in eastern Mexico disproportionately impacts highly exposed Indigenous and socially vulnerable communities

The effort to recover northern Veracruz. Image by Secretaría de Protección Civil de Veracruz.

In early October 2025, three days of very heavy rainfall hit the Eastern coast of Mexico, causing widespread flooding, overflowing rivers, and numerous landslides. Between October 8 and 10, heavy rainfall along Mexico’s Gulf Coast caused severe flooding and landslides across the states of Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo, Querétaro, and San Luis Potosí. At the time … Continue reading “Heavy rainfall leading to widespread flooding in eastern Mexico disproportionately impacts highly exposed Indigenous and socially vulnerable communities”

Climate change enhanced intensity of Hurricane Melissa, testing limits of adaptation in Jamaica and eastern Cuba

The Ministry of Health of Jamaica and PAHO asses the damage on public health infrastructures after Hurricane Melissa. Image by PAHO.

Early on October 28th, Hurricane Melissa made landfall on the southern coast of Jamaica as a Category 5 storm on the Saffir–Simpson scale, bringing extreme winds, torrential rainfall, and life-threatening storm surges to coastal areas. The following day, Melissa weakened to a Category 3 hurricane before striking Cuba, while also bringing heavy rain and flooding … Continue reading “Climate change enhanced intensity of Hurricane Melissa, testing limits of adaptation in Jamaica and eastern Cuba”