December 2022

Flash floods at Petra

The ancient city received almost half its annual rainfall in a storm which caused tourists to be evacuated.

Christmas day floods in the Philippines

Heavy rains on Christmas day killed at least 51 and displaced thousands.

Winter storms in US and Canada

A winter storm, estimated to be more than 3000 kilometres wide, hit US states as far south as Texas as well as the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario. Blizzards and extreme cold left at least 60 people dead and millions without power, and travel cancelled during the holiday period. The storm was caused by Arctic winds known as the polar vortex dipping south over North America. Some scientists believe climate change may be fuelling this instability in polar weather systems.

Heatwave in Argentina 

In early December, 24 weather stations in Argentina recorded temperatures above 40C, Rivadavia station, located near the border with Bolivia and Paraguay, recorded a maximum temperature of 46C on 7 December – the hottest temperature recorded in the world that day. Argentina is in its third consecutive year of drought.

Researchers found this heatwave was made about 60 times more likely by climate change.

Floods in Kinshasa

More than 120 people were killed following the worst floods in years in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Many of those who died were in hillside areas which suffered landslides.

October 2022

Floods in West/Central Africa

Floods in Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Benin, triggered by an early and unusually severe monsoon season, together killed at least 800 people. Analysis found the heaviest seven days of rainfall were probably about twice as likely to happen because of the influence of climate change. The entire summer’s average rainfall, on the other hand, was probably about 80 times more likely. The rains were also likely around 20 percent more intense than they would have been without the influence of global warming.

On 28 October, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, warned of surging needs for more than 3.4 million displaced people due to flooding in Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Cameroon.

Nigeria

Over 600 were killed and 1.3 million displaced in the worst floods in Nigeria for a decade. Most of the affected states are in the south-east and north-central regions, where hundreds of communities have been cut off and are without access to food, clean water and fuel. A surge in cholera cases has been reported.

Chad

Following the heaviest rainy season in 30 years which had caused flooding in 18 of Chad's 23 provinces, in mid-October the two rivers that surround Chad’s capital, N'Djamena, both overflowed. The waters did not recede, and as of mid-November, 110 square km in N’Djamena and its immediate surroundings were under water. Chad's government declared a state of emergency.

Cameroon

Floods in the north of the country affected more than 150,000 people and destroyed over 18,000 homes. There were concerns about outbreaks of cholera in refugee camps.

Late October heatwave

The second half of October saw abnormally high 'summer' temperatures around the eastern Mediterranean. Algeria's Oran airport recorded 40.4C on 17 October and on 18 October, 51 weather stations in France recorded above 30C. Abnormally high temperatures were also recorded in parts of the Middle East and Central Asia.

Floods in south-eastern Australia

Severe floods hit the states of Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. La Nina combined with another weather pattern called a negative Indian Ocean Dipole, along with climate change. The crisis follows severe flooding in March and April on Australia's east coast. Consecutive wet years have left the land saturated, unable to easily absorb excess rainfall, and some dams full. Sydney has experienced its wettest year on record, In 30 minutes on 7 October, Melbourne received half its average monthly rainfall.

Drought in Brazil's Amazonas state

Levels of the Amazon river have fallen due to severe drought that, at least in some areas, is the worst in decades.

Drought shrinks Mississippi River and other North American waters

The drought-hit Mississippi fell to its lowest level ever at Memphis. Barges transporting grain and other goods were limiting their loads, with 1,700 barges waiting for dredging to open a channel. With the saltwater intrusion threatening drinking water supply, the US army was constructing an underwater dam to block heavier saltwater from moving upstream.

About 82% of the continental US is in conditions between abnormally dry and exceptional drought. The Great Salt Lake in Utah is shrinking and 'on the brink of ecological collapse'. The Platte River in Nebraska ran almost entirely dry. In British Columbia, Canada, the carcasses of 65,000 salmon were found in a dried up river.

Landslide in Venezuela / Hurricane Julia

After a month's rainfall fell in the region in eight hours, the El Pato river burst its banks, causing floodwaters to wash away trees, cars, houses and shops in the small Venezuelan town of Las Tejerías, and killing at least 54. 

The same system developed into Hurricane Julia which made landfall in Nicaragua as a Category 1 storm, moving through Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. It caused at least 28 deaths, half of them in Guatemala. While this storm was not as strong as others in the past, it hit countries such as Honduras which have not recovered from Hurricanes Eta and Iota in 2020.

Extreme heat in parts of China

Southern provinces set temperature records for October, with drought alerts still in place in some areas, while the north west faced early snowfall.

September 2022

Hurricane Ian

Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 hurricane, tied with several other storms becoming the 5th-strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in the US. Ian knocked out power to the whole of Cuba, and caused massive damage in Florida. In total there were at least  at least 140 fatalities and losses estimated to be more than over $67 billion. A preliminary study found that the amount of rain dumped by the storm was 10% higher because of global warming.

Typhoon Noru

Typhoon Noru was predicted to make landfall in the Philippines as the equivalent of a Category 1 hurricane. But after rapid intensification over only six hours, it strengthened into a super typhoon, the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane. Hundreds of thousands were evacuated and 40 deaths reported across the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. 

August 2022

Catastrophic floods in Pakistan

Devastating floods in Pakistan were caused by heavier than usual monsoon rains and melting glaciers that followed an unprecedented heatwave. Affecting 33 million people and causing an estimated $30 billion reconstruction costs and economic damage, the floods caused Pakistan's government to call for debt relief.

Flooding in West and Central Africa

The UN reported that over 125,000 people had been displaced by recent flooding across 17 countries in West and Central Africa, including the Republic of Congo, Chad, Liberia, Nigeria, Niger, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Mauritania, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon, Mali and Burkina Faso.

Above average rainfall was linked to an ongoing la Niña event, exacerbated by climate change. Deforestation is also believed to contribute towards heavier rainfall, with informal settlements in urban floodplains and hillsides particularly vulnerable in cities such as Freetown where six people lost their lives in a mudslide.  

Floods in Sudan

Around 226,200 people have been affected by flooding and heavy rains across 15 states. The rains and floods destroyed at least 13,200 houses and damaged another 34,200 since the beginning of the rainy season in June, with 89 people killed and more than 30 injured.

Drought continues in Europe

Analysts warn it is probably the worst drought the continent has faced in 500 years.

Drought in China

A record-breaking drought has caused some rivers in China, including parts of the Yangtze, to dry up, affecting hydropower. Sichuan, which gets more than 80% of its energy from hydropower, rationed  electricity usage. Shipping was also halted on the crucial waterway, and 2.2m hectares of agricultural land were affected by the drought.

July 2022

McKinney fire spreads in California 

The McKinney fire in northern California rapidly expanded to become the state's largest so far this year, burning over 56,000 acres and killing four.

Flash floods and mudslides in Iran

Two weeks of heavy rainfall brought flash floods and mudslides which killed at least 69 people.

Floods in Uganda

After prolonged drought, torrential rain in parts of Uganda caused floods and landslides which affected over 300,000 people and killed at least 24.

US: two 1-in-1,000 year rain events in two days

The same climate-charged weather pattern brought record-breaking rainfall to St Louis, with floods killing one person, and similar heavy rain and floods the following night to eastern Kentucky, killing at least 25 people.

Europe's heatwave

Wildfires spread around the Mediterranean, in what has been predicted to be Europe's worst climate disaster. So far in Portugal 238 have died from the heat and 12,000 have been evacuated from fires in southwest France. In the UK, the Met Office issued the first ever Red extreme heat warning, as temperatures are set to rise above 40C in the UK, and experts warned to expect thousands of deaths.

Heat alert in China

Continuing earlier severe floods in southern China and heat in northern and central China: 86 cities issued red alerts warning of temperatures over 40C. Roads have buckled in the heat

Floods in Sydney, Australia

Sydney received almost four months' worth of rain in just a few days, causing severe flooding. For some areas of eastern New South Wales this was their fourth flood emergency in less than 18 months.

Drought emergency declared in northern Italy

Italy has declared a state of emergency in five northern regions surrounding the Po River amid the worst drought in 70 years. Seawater is now seeping into the river, destroying crops.

June 2022

Heatwaves from Norway to North Africa break temperature records

Norway recorded a temperature of 32.5C at Banak, the highest temperature ever recorded within the Arctic Circle in Europe, and where the June average of 13C.

The heatwave extended down through eastern Europe, breaking June temperature records in Slovenia and Croatia, Czech and Slovakia, and in Rome.

At 48.2C Turkmenistan recorded the hottest June day in the history of Central Asia. Records were also set for Tajikistan (46.1C) and Uzbekistan (47C). The city of Abadan in Iran hit a staggering 52.2C.

Temperatures in Tunisia equalled its monthly record of 48.7C, and local temperature records were set in Algeria

Japan heatwave

The heatwave in Japan is the worst ever recorded. Temperatures reached over 40C for the first time ever in June.

Floods in Bangladesh and Assam

Assam and other north-eastern states of India esperienced 'double the usual amount of rain' submerging villages, and bringing waist deep flood water to cities. Authorities said more than 5.5 million people had been affected and 260,000 were in relief camps.

In Bangladesh at least 60 people were killed, with Sylhet district the worst affected, with the worst flooding there for 122 years. crops damaged and over four million stranded. Getting clean drinking water to people after the floods has to be a priority to avoid an epidemic of waterborne diseases. The last seven years alone brought five major floods. Another, pre-monsoon flood, just one month previously, reduced the capacity of wetlands to absorb water, and for communities to cope, hit with successive disasters.

Famine threatens in Horn of Africa

The Horn of Africa has suffered four consecutive failed rainy seasons and is experiencing its worst drought in four decades, exacerbated by food price rises caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Somalia is the worst affected country, and aid workers have warned that conditions are worse than the 2011 famine that killed more than 250,000 people. Six million people, 40% of the population, are “acutely food insecure”. That includes 81,000 people already at a “catastrophe” level of hunger. Yet the humanitarian response plan is only 18 percent funded. More than 770,000 people have abandoned their homes.

More than four million people in north and eastern Kenya are acutely food insecure. In the eastern and southern lowlands of Ethiopia, drought is affecting 6.8 million people. An estimated 2.5 million livestock died between late 2021 and mid-May 2022. In Sudan, 40% of the population are estimated to be short of food by September, because of conflict, poor harvests and political crisis, while in South Sudan three consecutive years of flooding as well as conflict have left 70% dependent on food aid (overview of countries' needs)

Heat and floods in China

There was record electricity demand in northern China due to a heatwave. Meanwhile hundreds of thousands have had to be evacuated in the south due to floods caused by the heaviest rainfall early May to mid June that the region has seen in decades. More than 200,000 people had to be evacuated in Guangdong and 145,000  in Guangxi, where 2,700 houses collapsed. In eastern Jiangxi Province, nearly 500,000 people were affected and in neighbouring Fujian, more than 220,000 people were evacuated.

Earlier in June, at least 21 people died after flooding induced by torrential rain in the central Chinese province of Hubei.

Heatwave in western Europe

An unusually early and intense heatwave spread up from North Africa in mid-June, bringing temperatures more than 10°C higher than the average for this time of year to parts of Spain and France,. In France  In France, hundreds of monthly temperature records were broken and 16 all-time records. Public outdoor events were temporarily banned in parts of France. In Spain, the heat sparked dozens of wildfires in eight of the country’s 17 regions, including a 'monster' blaze in the In the Sierra de la Culebra mountain range, an important wildlife habitat. The heatwave compounded the ongoing drought.

Meanwhile the drought in northern Italy has escalated. 170 towns in Piedmont have ordered that water only be used for essential purposes such as for drinking and food. The lack of water threatens 50% of northern Italy's agricultural production.

Heatwave in the US

More than 100 million Americans were warned to stay at home in a mid-June heatwave, which continued across the country, with forecasts that 70% of Americans will experience temperatures over 32C, and nearly 20% of the country will see the temperatures near or above 38C (100F).

Central Asia heatwave

Temperatures rose to the 40s in Uzbekistan and reached 45.9C in Saragt, Turkmenistan.

April/May 2022

Heatwave continues in India and Pakistan

In northwest India and Pakistan, after the hottest March ever recorded, April and May continued with further record-breaking temperatures in an early heatwave described as a 'year with no spring'. The heatwave caused power and water shortages, as well as school closures. Several Indian states were struggling with forest fires, while methane caused landfill sites to catch fire in New Delhi, emitting toxic black smoke. Pakistan's climate minister said the country was facing an 'existential crisis'.

Record temperatures of above 49C were reported in parts of Delhi. Coverage of what it means for India's poor to live and work in brutal heat here, here and here, and also of life in Pakistan's hottest city, Jacobabad.

The heatwave has damaged wheat harvests, and the Indian government responded by banning wheat exports, at a time when global wheat supplies are already hit by the war in Ukraine.

Floods in Bangladesh and Assam

Meanwhile in northeast India, pre-monsoon rains caused heavy floods and landslides in the state of Assam, India, affecting over 400,000 people. Heavy rain, flooding and landslides have also affected other parts of the region.

Ongoing flooding in north-eastern Bangladesh has affected over 4 million people.

Floods in Queensland

After severe thunderstorms hit Queensland, Australia, hundreds evacuated or were rescued from flood waters. This is Queensland’s sixth severe flood event since December, including catastrophic flooding in February.

Sandstorms in Iraq

Desert sandstorms are becoming more common in Iraq due to reduced rainfall and desertification, with eight sandstorms in one month, between mid-April and mid-May. In one sandstorm 5000 Iraqis sought hospital treatment with breathing difficulties and one person died. 

Mass bleaching on Great Barrier Reef

Scientists recorded the fourth mass bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef since 2016, with more than 90% of the reefs surveyed showing some bleaching. Alarmingly, this was the first mass bleaching event during a La Niña year (relatively cooler), but even this did not allow the expected respite. In December, ocean temperatures over the reef hit a record high for that month. Bleaching, where corals expell their algae under heat stress, is not always fatal. But global temperature rise above 1.5C would cause loss of almost all coral reefs.

Siberia wildfires burn unchecked

Siberia has fallen victim to increasingly devastating wildfires in recent summers due to drought and abnormally high temperatures. The current area of forest fires burning across Russia is twice as large as that of the same time last year. Many of the military firefighting forces have been sent to Ukraine.

Drought in Italy and France threatens crops.

With three months without rainfall, and a lack of snowfall in the mountains, northern Italy's Po river is drying up, threatening threatens more than 30 per cent of Italy's agricultural production. French farmers have also been hit by drought after low rainfall in both winter and spring.

Heat, drought and wildfires in US south west

In the first four months of 2022, over a million acres burned across the United States. Around 90% of the American west is in drought, and in the southwest the fire season is effectively year-round. Fires included the Arizona Tunnel fire grew to more than 32 square miles, with those evacuating reporting flames up to 30 metres high and multiple fires in New Mexico including the Calf Canyon fire, the second largest in New Mexico's history.

Record temperatures of 44C were set in Texas, with a heatwave moving into the central United States. Continued high temperatures make it more difficult to contain ongoing wildfires.

Uzbekistan floods

At least 4 people have died as a result of floods and mudslides in Uzbekistan said to be some of the worst seen in 80 years, after a month’s worth of rain fell in less than 2 hours.

Durban floods

Devastating floods in Durban, South Africa and the surrounding area have killed at least 448 people and destroyed about 4000 homes. The heavy rainfall was linked to climate change and the death toll was exacerbated by poor infrastructure and a lack of effective early warning systems.

An attribution study revealed that the probability of an extreme rainfall event like this has approximately doubled due to human-induced climate change. 

Drought in Chile leads to water rationing

As the drought in Chile enters its 13th year, water rationing is announced in the capital, Santiago.

March 2022

Heatwave in South Asia as climate shifts

India recorded the hottest March since records began, 122 years ago. March is usually a cooler month in India, coming before the hottest summer months of April and May, climate scientists believe India's spring season is shortening, The hot temperatures and low rainfall (28% of everage) have lowered wheat harvests,

At one weather station in south Pakistan, a maximum temperature of 45.5C was recorded.

War in Ukraine compounds the hunger crisis in East Africa

Up to 20 million people in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.are facing severe food insecurity as soaring wheat prices follow the failure of three consecutive rainy seasons, Covid and desert locusts. Warming in the western Pacific strengthens La Niña and increases the probability of drought in East Africa. Exceptionally warm recent weather has also dried up water holes on which many pastoralists communities rely.

Up to eight million more people are expected to go hungry in South Sudan, which is facing a fifth consecutive year of severe flooding (see below)

Extraordinary temperatures at the poles

A heatwave in Eastern Antarctica saw a record temperature of -11.8C at one station, more than 40C warmer than seasonal norms. At the same time, some stations near the north pole reached 30C above normal, with records broken in Norway. Sea ice around Antarctica has dropped to its lowest level since measurements began in 1979.

Cyclone hits Mozambique and Malawi

Severe Tropical Cyclone Gombe killed over 50 people in Mozambique and displaced over 100,000 in Malawi.

February 2022

Eastern Australian states hit by major floods

Parts of Brisbane experienced a year's rainfall in three days, with eight reported dead and 15,000 homes flooded in the city and surrounding areas. The rain then shifted into northern New South Wales. The city of Lismore was hit by the worst floods in its history with hundreds stranded and needing to be rescued and thousands evacuated

Wildfires in Argentina

Heat and drought have led to catastrophic wildfires in the north of Argentina.

UK winter storms

Back-to-back storms swept the UK in February, with many affected by flooding. Climate scientists said that more severe storms in the UK are likely with climate change, with heavier rainfall already linked to a warmer climate, although the evidence is less clear for wind speeds.

Drought in Portugal

Over nine-tenths of Portugal is enduring “severe” or “extreme” drought conditions. The frequency of droughts has increased over the last 20 years.

Floods and mudslides in Brazil

In the Brazilian city of Petropolis, a month's rain fell in one day, with at least 117 people dying in the resulting floods and mudslides.

Drought continues in the Horn of Africa

The UN warned that 13 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia face severe hunger in because of prolonged drought. Families are taking desperate measures to survive, with thousands leaving their homes in search of food, water and pasture.

Cyclone Batsirai hits Madagascar

Following hard on the heels of Storm Ana, another tropical storm hit Madagascar. The death toll from Cyclone Batsirai has been estimated at 120. The cyclone left about 124,000 people with their homes damaged or destroyed, and 30,000 displaced.

This was followed by Storm Dumako and Cyclone Emnati: four major storms in a month. A later attribution study concluded that climate change had increased the likelihood and intensity of heavy rainfall from Ana and Batsirai.

January 2022

Storm Ana causes destruction across Madagascar, Mozambique and Malawi

Storm Ana caused at least 48 deaths in Madagascar, with 130,000 people evacuated to makeshift shelters. Dozens more died in Mozambique, where at least 10,000 homes, along with schools and hospitals were destroyed, and Malawi, which has declared a state of natural disaster. Widespread floods have destroyed crops as well as infrastructure. Mozambique has been hit by repeated climate disasters. In 2019, after the catastrophe of Cyclones Idai and Kenneth. Mozambique was driven further into debt, having to borrow $118 million from the IMF for rebuilding.

Renewed appeals for help in Afghanistan

The country, trapped between drought and sanctions now faces a freezing winter: 98% of the population do not have enough to eat.

Flash floods in Haiti and the Dominican Republic

Thousands of people have been forced from their homes after flooding in parts of Haiti and Dominican Republic.

Floods and landslides in Ecuador

At least 11 people died in catastrophic flash flooding in Quito, Ecuador's capital. There was also severe flooding and landslides in the provinces of Guayas, Cotopáxi, El Oro and Los Ríos.

Heatwave in Argentina and surrounding areas

The historic heatwave caused power cuts in Buenos Aires, with 75,000 losing electricity. Firefighters were battling forest fires in nine out of Argentina's 23 provinces. 

Floods and landslides in Brazil

Flooding and landslides in the state of Minas Gerais killed at least 15 people and displaced thousands. There were also damaging floods in the state of Sao Paolo, killing 19, and earlier in Sao Paolo and Para. 

High temperatures in Western Australia, floods in Queensland

Australia's hottest ever temperature, of 50.7C, was matched at the remote town of Onslow, while a tropical cyclone brought heavy rain (up to 65cm in 24 hours) and flooding to Queensland.

Floods in Indonesia

Floods have affected Papua and East Java, following earlier floods on Sumatra which displaced around 20,000 people.

Floods in Montvideo, Uraguay

After a period of extremely high temperatures, storms with torrential rain caused flash floods in the capital.

2021 round up

More than 400 weather stations exceeded their all-time temperature records in 2021. Ten national temperature records were broken or equalled in 2021, including the highest ever reliably measured on Earth, in Furnace Creek, Death Valley.

Christian Aid produced a report on the climate events with the greatest financial and human impact in 2021: hurricanes in the US, China and India, floods in Australia, Europe and Canada which all cost over 1.5 billion dollars of damage, as well as drought in Africa and Latin America and floods in South Sudan.

Care International reported on the 'Most Underreported Humanitarian Crises of 2021'. Of these ten countries, the climate crisis is having a significant impact in seven: Zambia, Ukraine, Malawi, Guatemala, Burundi, Niger, Zimbabwe and Honduras.

Life at 50C. This one hour BBC documentary and series of short (15 minute) films  tell the story of people in some of the regions most affected by severe heat: India, Mauritania, Canada, Nigeria, Kuwait, Australia, Iraq and Pakistan (overview and 3 min interviews)

December 2021

2021 ends with abnormal warmth in Europe

The UK recorded the warmest New Year's Day on record, following record-breaking temperatures in Spain in late December and ski resorts in Italy too warm even for artificial snow.

Meanwhile in Alaska, unusually warm weather brought daytime temperatures above 15C (usually -10C to -4C at this time of year) with a record-breaking high of 19.4C recorded on Kodiak island. The warm temperatures came with heavy rain and snow which caused severe problems on roads as they froze to thick ice.

Colorado wildfires

Hot dry weather caused wildfires which ripped through suburban areas of Boulder County, Colorado, destroying at least 1000 homes and businesses.

Super Typhoon Rai / Odette causes devastation in the Philippines

Super Typhoon Rai was only the third Category 5 super typhoon so far ever recorded in the South China Sea. It caused at least 375 deaths, with rescue workers struggling to reach survivors and over 16,000 families sheltering in cramped evacuation centers, causing concerns about water-borne diseases and Covid.

Floods in Malaysia

Unusually heavy rainfall, even for the monsoon season affected over 125,000 in Malaysia during the second half of December. By the beginning of January, almost all had returned home but almost 9,000 were still in refugee centres.

Tornadoes cause destruction across US

Five US states have been hit by a devastating series of tornadoes, levelling houses and factories, with an expected death toll of more than 100. One tornado alone followed an extraordinarily long and destructive path of more than 200 miles. Severe tornadoes are very rare outside spring and summer. They form when denser, drier cold air is pushed over warmer, humid air and winds vary in speed or direction at different altitudes, so the updraft starts to spin, extending down to the ground. 

Because tornadoes are rare, scientists say it is difficult to gather evidence as to whether climate change is making them more dangerous. There is some evidence that they are now more likely to occur in clusters, and that the area where they occur may be shifting eastwards.

Coastal flooding in south Pacific islands and Papua New Guinea

The Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands and Federated States of Micronesia all reported coastal flooding, caused by a combination of bad weather, high tides and a La Nina weather pattern on top of a long-term rise in sea levels caused by global warming, which ultimately threatens the future of these islands.

The floods caused thousands to be displaced in Papua New Guinea.

Food crisis warning in Mali

Humanitarian organisations have warned that 1.2 million face a food crisis in Mali, caused by drought, conflict and Covid-19. As elsewhere in the Sahel region, climate change in Mali is exacerbating conflict over resources and radicalisation, with foreign land-grabbing and corruption adding to a deadly mix. 

Cyclone causes severe floods in Southern Brazil

An extratropical cyclone forming off the coast of southern Brazil brought heavy rain to Bahia, with 45cm recorded in total at one location, and three deaths in the resulting floods.

Bushfires in Australia

Serious bushfires took hold in Margaret River, Western Australia in hot and windy conditions. While central Australia has experienced rare flooding, Western Australia and the Northern Territory experienced serious heatwaves late in the year and a late start to the wet season. Experts warn that widespread fires in remote regions are going unnoticed, and explain how traditional indigenous burning strategies could reduce vegetation 'fuel load' which increases the future risk of devastating fires.

Floods in Congo-Brazzaville

As of early December, weeks of heavy rain and flooding in Congo-Brazzaville have affected over 46,000. with over 6,500 displaced, 15 dead and 9 missing. IFRC said, “The affected population is exposed to bad weather, poor hygiene and waterborne diseases due to the lack of clean water. Heavy flooding has destroyed fields and livestock, affecting livelihoods."

South Sudan devastated by floods

South Sudan is ranked among the five countries in the world most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. For years, the country has been experiencing wetter-than-normal wet seasons, while its dry seasons are becoming even drier.  The 2021 White Nile floods have been the worst in 60 years. The rainy season has ended but in December the flood water has not receded, and the next rainy season is only five months away. Livelihoods have been devastated, more than 850,000 people affected and around 35,000 of them displaced - adding to many more internally displaced people already living in camps having fled the earlier civil war. Report from Fangak county

November 2021

Afghanistan facing 'near famine conditions'

Severe drought in Afghanistan have reduced harvests 80 to 90 per cent, and the drought is set to worsen in 2022. The World Food Programme reported that the number of Afghans living in near-famine conditions has risen to 8.7 million. Overall, almost 24 million people in Afghanistan, or 60% of the population, suffer from acute hunger. An estimated 3.2 million children under age 5 are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition by the end of the year. UNICEF also warned in September that t least 1 million children would suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year (at risk of dying without treatment), and the arrival of winter will increase suffering.

The country's agriculture depends on meltwater from mountain glaciers, snow and ice. In 2021, Afghanistan was hit with both reduced winter snowfall and below average spring rainfall. This is not just a one-off: climate change is causing more regular and more severe droughts. Droughts are predicted to become annual by 2030. There is an in-depth review here, which also points to 'at least two decades of neglect and mismanagement' leaving the country without water management resources. 

The drought alone has not caused starvation, however. By the time of the Taliban’s takeover, foreign aid accounted for three-quarters of government spending. The US has cut off aid, halting the regular shipments of dollars to Afghanistan, and frozen $9.5bn of Afghanistan’s central bank assets, with European banks quickly following suit. These sanctions have led to soaring unemployment, with public employees not being paid, Unlike previous droughts, there is no safety net for rural families in seeking urban employment. Taliban bans that are keeping women from most paid jobs have also hit households in which women were the main earners. Human Rights Watch have called on the US and UN to ensure that financial transactions relating to humanitarian work are not blocked.

Drought in East Africa

The UN has reported at least 26 million people  are struggling for food in the Horn of Africa following consecutive poor rainfall seasons. Of these almost 7.1 million face emergency conditions of malnutrition and over 500,000 are in catastrophic conditions critical acute malnutrition, hunger, destitution and death.

Drought conditions in northern Kenya, much of Somalia and southern Ethiopia are predicted to persist until at least mid-2022, putting lives at risk. The situation is already so bad that wild animals are dying in their hundreds and herders are reporting losses of up to 70% of their livestock. 

The United Nations has warned that more than 80 percent of Somalia is estimated to be experiencing severe drought conditions. About 2.3 million people face serious water, food and pasture shortages as water pans and boreholes have dried up

Climate change is amplifying the drought-inducing capabilities of El Niños and La Niñas in East Africa, and the 2022 March-to-May rainy season, which ends eight months in the future, is also likely to be poor. 

Severe flooding in British Columbia

Heavy rainfall caused disastrous flooding in Vancouver and surrounding areas of British Columbia. Thousands of people were evacuated, others became trapped on cut-off roads, and several towns were completely cut off (more coverage here and here). Mud and landslides destroyed parts of major highways. At least four people were killed. The rain was brought by an 'atmospheric river', a narrow corridor of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere. These are predicted to intensify with global warming.

The flooding was made worse both by clear-cut logging but also by wildfires in the summer having destroyed vegetation, exacerbated by the unprecedented heatwave in British Columbia and the Pacific North West. The region has been hit by successive climate disasters, first heatwaves and wildfires then floods.

Monsoon rains bring floods and landslides to southeastern India and Sri Lanka

In Tamil Nadu, 11,000 had to leave their homes to escape floods and 14 have been reported killed. In Andhra Pradesh, at least 24 people lost their lives and over 31,000 were displaced. At least 20 people died in floods, landslides and lightning strikes in Sri Lanka following almost 2 weeks of heavy rain

Floods and landslides in Vietnam

At least 2 people have died and over 2,500 homes damaged after flooding and landslides struck in central provinces of Vietnam following days of heavy rain. [Update: over 60,000 houses flooded and at least 18 dead or missing]

Heavy rain and floods across Australia

Most of Australia has experienced heavy rainfall, storms and flooding. destroying farmers' crops, in the wettest November since records began in 1900.

Floods in Spain

Heavy rain caused severe flooding in Asturias, Cantabria and Basque regions. Other regions of the country had flooded earlier in November.

Floods in Malta

Malta experienced a whole month's rain in 24 hours, causing dramatic floods.

October 2021

Drought worsens in Madagascar

Humanitarian organisations report that the drought in the Grand Sud region of Madagascar has worsened. Over 1.3 million people were severely food insecure at the beginning of the annual lean season (October to April), including at least 28,000 people facing famine-like conditions, and while the humanitarian response has stepped up, more support is urgently needed.

Floods in China

More than 1.76 million people were affected by severe flooding in China's northern Shanxi province. Across the province, over 120,000 people were resettled, and 17,000 homes collapsed.

Storms in the US

A 'bomb cyclone' in the Pacific, when air pressure rapidly drops as the storm explosively strengthens, hit the west coast of the US, bringing in heavy rainfall. In California, suffering from long-term drought, there were mudslides and rock slides, especially in areas where burn scars had been created by wildfires. The storm brought record rainfall to some areas, killing two in Seattle and leaving hundreds of thousands without power and then moved eastwards.

Floods in India and Nepal

More than 180 people died after heavy rainfall triggered flash floods in Nepal and the Indian states of Uttarakhand and Kerala. Situated between the mountains of the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea,whose rissing temperatures makes heavy rainfall events more likely, Kerala is witnessing more deadly floods and landslides in recent years. Almost half (43%) of Kerala  is vulnerable to landslips and landslides. Uttarakhand received ten times as much rain as it usually does in the whole of November. 

Floods in Cote d'Ivoire

At least 4 people have died and several were injured after heavy rain caused flooding in the city of Abidjan.

September 2021

Hurricane Ida

Hurricane Ida was one of three hurricanes in recorded history to make landfall in Louisiana with 150 mph winds on landfall. Early in its development it caused heavy rains and landslides in Venezuela, killing 20, and destroyed homes in Cuba. Heavy infrastructure damage occurred in southeastern Louisiana, as well as extremely heavy flooding in coastal areas. More than a million people in total had no electrical power. When the remnants of the storm reached the Northeastern United States in the beginning of September, it brought several intense tornadoes and catastrophic flash flooding, killing at least 46 people.

Sudan flooding

Heavy rains and flash floods hit 13 of Sudan’s 18 states, affecting more than 288,000 residents and refugees from earlier floods in South Sudan. In neighbouring South Sudan, the deluge affected and displaced about 426,000 people, exacerbating the swelling humanitarian needs in Sudan. 

Monsoon flooding in South Asia

Severe flooding in the state of Gujarat on the western coast of India affected over 1.6 million people, with over 7000 displaced, and two deaths reported. Some areas recorded more than 50 cm of rain in 24 hours. Heavy rains also caused severe flooding in West Bengal, at least 10 people lost their lives and more than 1.2 million people were affected.

Extreme monsoon rain in Nepal triggered landslides killing at least 10 people. At least 20 died in floods and mudslides in Pakistan.

Ongoing drought in East Africa

President Kenyatta officially declared drought in parts of Kenya a national disaster.

Flooding in Thailand and Malaysia

There was heavy rainfall and floods in several provinces covering about a third of Thailand, influenced by tropical storm Dianmu. Severe flooding swept through parts of Sabah State in Malaysia after heavy rain on 15 September. 

Nigeria floods

Severe flash floods hit the Nigerian capital Abuja and Federal Capital Territory, claiming the lives of 4 people. 

Guinea floods

At least 5 people have died and thousands left homeless after heavy rain and floods caused severe damage in areas of Guinea from late August. 

Flooding of rivers in northern Colombia

Over 50,000 people were affected by floods in northern Colombia.

August 2021

Heatwave and wildfires hit the Mediterranean

Temperatures in Sicily reached a high of 48.8C - the highest temperature ever recorded in Europe. Spain also hit a temperature record (47.4C), and the city of Tunis reached 49C.

Wildfires raged across Greece, with 2,600 evacuated from the island of Evia, and the EU mounting its largest firefighting operations ever. There was also wildfires in Italy, in Turkey and in Algeria where 65 died.

Analysis showed that the record-breaking temperatures would have been impossible without climate change.

Floods in Sudan and South Sudan

There were at least 43 fatalities and 3 800 homes destroyed from flooding in Sudan. Meanwhile, The United Nations reported that ongoing floods in South Sudan had affected over 380,000 people

Storms hit Japan

Southern and western Japan have been battered by storms - several people are dead and more than 1 million told to evacuate.

July 2021 

During this month, extreme weather was rarely out of the news. The report below is taken from an earlier blog post.

Famine looms in Madagascar 

Madagascar is on the brink of a famine it played little part in creating. In Southern Madagascar, a four-year drought and vicious sandstorms have destroyed crops and turned arable land to desert. As many as 500,000 are nearing starvation.

Unprecedented heatwave in North America

‘Nowhere is safe’: heat shatters vision of Pacific north-west as climate refuge. A 'heat dome' brought unprecedented heat to the US Pacific north-west and western Canada. Known for mild summers, cities were unprepared for record temperatures of up to 42.2C (Seattle) and 46.7C (Portland, Oregon). Some inland areas managed to get up to 118F (47.8C). Hospitals suddenly found themselves overwhelmed, with several hundred people believed to have died in the heat. The town of Lytton shattered the previous heat record for Canada (45C), reaching 49.6C before residents fled a devastating wildfire, which destroyed large parts of the town. Temperature records are usually broken by fractions of degrees.

This is only part of a long-term trend - a 22 year megadrought as reduced snowfall mean reservoirs are not being replenished, causing an existential crisis for farmers and populations in the American West.  In the western US, currently 85% is in 'severe drought', with two-thirds (65%) in 'extreme' or 'exceptional' drought.

Heat and drought combined led to the West erupting in fierce wildfires. In Oregon, the Bootleg Fire has burned over 410,000 acres (over 1650 km2, more than the area of Greater London), and was powerful enough to generate dangerous columns of lightning-charged smoke and ash, reaching the stratosphere. The smoke from fires causes serious health problems, and has reached as far as the east coast, with New York issuing air quality warnings. In California, 2020 was the worst fire season on record, burning double the previous area. But 2021 is currently ahead of the trend for 2020, with 900 more fires compared to this time last year.

Heatwave in northern Europe and Siberian wildfires

‘Everything is on fire’: Siberia hit by unprecedented burning Extraordinary forest fires, which have already burned through 1.5m hectares (3.7m acres) of land in north-east Siberia have released choking smog across Russia’s Yakutia region, where officials have described this summer’s weather as the driest in the past 150 years. Fires have sparked one of the world's worst ever air pollution events. 

Abnormal heat across Russia, combined with low rainfall, is expected to damage this year's harvest if conditions do not change.

Norway, Sweden and Finland have also been experiencing a heatwave. Lapland recorded its hottest temperature for more than a century.

Southern Europe

Wildfires broke out in Catalonia in Spain, multiple fires Greece and burned over 20,000ha causing around 1000 people to be evacuated in Sardinia. There was also a major fire in south-western France.

South Asia heat records

Wet-bulb temperatures (WBT) combine heat and humidity into a single measure, representing the human body's ability to regulate to a safe temperature. At 35C WBT, even fit, acclimatised people who sit in the shade die within about 6 hours. With 2C global heating. it is predicted almost all of India would see 33-35C WBT at least every 8 years. The city of Jacobabad in Pakistan reached 52C, which with high humidity represented a WBT of 35C

Iraq heatwave

As temperatures in Baghdad and southern provinces of Iraq rose up to 52C, power cuts left many without electricity for days, a reminder that climate impacts oftern come on top of existing conflict, inequality and infrastructure failure.

Devastating floods in China

Death toll rises and thousands flee homes as floods hit China Days of torrential rain and massive flooding hit China’s southeastern Henan province, bursting the banks of rivers, overwhelming dams and the public transport system and forcing thousands of people to evacuate their homes. At least 25 people have been killed and seven are missing in the provincial capital, Zhengzhou as the subway system flooded. The rain was extraordinarily intense: the average annual rainfall in Zhengzhou is around 64cm. In 24 hours over 55cm fell, with over 20cm In just one hour.

Just two weeks previously, heavy rain in Sichuan province affected more than 120,000 people, with the city of Dazhou evacuating more than 4,600 hit by rising water and landslides and damage of an estimated US$27 million. Floods in Jiangxi also caused 60,000 to be evacuated.

Floods in northern Europe

More than 190 people have died in flooding caused by heavy rainfall. The district of Ahrweiler in Rhineland-Palatinate, south of Cologne, was the worst-hit area, with at least 117 people killed, and homes and roads torn up. At least 31 died in Belgium (further floods 10 days later in the town of Dinant caused damage but no deaths). In Austria, severe flooding also occurred but without fatalities. London was also affected by flooding.

Floods in Turkey and Iran

Mountainous north-eastern Turkey, bordering the Black Sea, is already flood-prone, with most flat land available for building in river valleys. Climate change is making rain heavier. Floods and landslides killed six in Rize, with further severe flooding a week later.

Iran has been affected by flash floods and storms across 15 provinces, killing eight. while floods hit Oman and Yemen.

Extreme rainfall brings flooding in South Asia

In Maharashtra in India, torrential monsoon rains caused landslides and flooding. The state has recorded its heaviest spell of July rain for decades.A record 1.5m rainfall over 72 hours was reported in the hill town of Mahabaleshwar, causing a deadly landslide downstream in the coastal region. The total death toll is now at least 192.

Earlier in the month, dozens died in Mumbai in a landslide caused by monsoon rains. There were also fatalities from landslides in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, while a million people were affected by flooding and 7,400 evacuated in Bihar. Heavy rain and landslides also affected Nepal and Pakistan. In recent years, the monsoon has shifted towards long dry spells broken up by burst of extreme rainfall, which are more likely to flood drains and overwhelm infrastructure

In Bangladesh, floods and landslides destroyed shelters and killed eight people in Rohingya refugee camps, highlighting again how the poorest and most vulnerable are located on the frontline of climate impacts.

Floods and landslides in Japan, South Korea, South East Asia

A landslide killed at least two people in the resort city of Atami in Japan. Landslides are common in Japan, but have increased in frequency by 50% in the past decade, attributed to the rise in heavy rainfall due to climate change.

Two people were killed in floods and landslides in South Korea, Over 80,000 people evacuated their homes in the Philippines after flooding caused by a combination of the monsoon and Typhoon Fabian, while over 2000 homes were damaged by floods and landslides in Indonesia.

Africa floods

Rising waters in Lake Tanganika have displaced tens of thousands in Burundi alone. In Nigeria, up to 4000 were displaced by floods, while rising lake waters also displaced hundreds in Uganda.

New Zealand flooding

New Zealand's west coast was hit by severe flooding after heavy rain, as was the Marlborough region. Climate scientists explained that the flooding was due to a phenomenon called an 'atmospheric river', exacerbated by climate change.

Floods across the Americas

Heavy flooding affected tens of thousands in Costa Rica and Panama, also in northern Colombia in Magdalena and Antioquia Departments. In the US, there were floods in Alabama, Arizona, South Texas, and New York, where rain from Storm Elsa flooded the New York subway.

China floods break records

Heatwave across the US west

Heatwave in southern and southeast Europe

Italy's health ministry placed 12 cities under a red alert heat warning, the highest state of heat emergency. For Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia, it is the second week that temperatures have been hovering around 40, with the Bosnian town of Mostar registering that high for the sixth consecutive day. 

In North Macedonia, the government has declared a month-long state of crisis, with two heatwaves in July with temperatures rising to 42C. The country asked Serbia for firefighting helicopters as firefighters battled 17 wildfires in arid and mountainous regions.

Romania and neighbouring Moldova have also been gripped by an intense heatwave over the past week, with temperatures in both country’s capitals, Bucharest and Chisinau respectively, exceeding 40 degrees.

Serbia’s public health institute declared dangerous conditions in 10 municipalities, while the Adriatic Sea hovered at temperatures around a record-high 29.5°C in several coastal resorts of Croatia. In Dubrovnik, Croatia's main tourism resort, temperatures were 28C even at dawn. 

Japan has experienced its hottest July in recorded history, beating the previous record for July, set only last year. Temperatures rose above 40C in seven locations. At least 59 people have died of heatstroke in Japan since April.