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What was once deemed a “once-in-a-century” flood is now an all-too-frequent and catastrophic reality, driven by climate change’s relentless destabilization of our weather systems.
Last week, Central Europe was gripped by one of the most intense flooding events the region has seen in over two decades. As of 25th September, the floods have claimed 24 lives, with countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary bearing the brunt of the devastation. While some regions are slowly recovering, others remain on high alert as further rainfall is expected. Storm Boris, the slow-moving storm responsible for this disaster, has unleashed torrential rains that have overwhelmed rivers, submerged homes, and left cities such as Ostrava in the Czech Republic almost entirely underwater. Thousands of residents in a Polish town have been ordered to evacuate as devastating floods caused by Storm Boris continue to sweep through Central Europe.
Though it’s still too early to attribute this specific event to climate change, many experts argue that the characteristics of the flooding align with patterns of extreme weather expected to become more frequent as the Earth’s climate continues to warm. The sheer magnitude of the rainfall brought by Storm Boris—five times the region’s typical September rainfall in just four days—raises the question: Are events like this becoming the new normal?
Extreme weather events and Storm Boris: A climate connection
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has long predicted that global warming would lead to more extreme weather patterns, and the current spate of floods in Central Europe follows that script. Floods occur when rivers are overwhelmed by heavy rains or snowmelt, causing water to overflow onto adjacent land. With warmer temperatures increasing the amount of moisture the atmosphere can hold, storms can produce heavier and more prolonged downpours, making floods like the one triggered by Storm Boris more likely.
In the Czech Republic, the body of a 70-year-old woman was found after she was swept away by floodwaters in the northeastern part of the country. In Southern Poland, where flooding is still a concern, volunteers and soldiers work tirelessly to protect homes from further inundation by placing sandbags along riverbeds near Wroclaw. Despite their efforts, many towns remain vulnerable. In areas such as Ostrava, entire homes have been submerged. Roads have turned into rivers, and what was once a peaceful landscape is now a testament to nature’s fury. For many, the psychological and financial toll will last long after the waters have receded. Farmers have seen their crops destroyed and their livelihoods threatened. Rebuilding will take years, and in some cases, the damage may be too severe to recover from fully.
Many cities and towns in Central Europe have expanded into floodplains—areas naturally susceptible to flooding. While these regions are often appealing due to their fertile soil and proximity to water, this expansion significantly increases the risk of devastation during extreme weather events. Once a flood occurs, homes and businesses in these areas are much more likely to be damaged or destroyed.
A Call for Adaptation and Resilience
The Central European floods are a stark reminder that as climate change progresses, communities around the world will need to become more resilient to extreme weather. Governments, businesses, and individuals all have a role to play in adapting to a changing climate.
Improved early warning systems, better flood defences, and more innovative urban planning are just a few ways countries can prepare for future floods. Volunteers and local authorities are doing their best to manage the immediate crisis in Poland, the Czech Republic, and elsewhere, but the long-term solution lies in building resilience. This means rethinking infrastructure, land use, and water management to account for the increasing likelihood of extreme weather events.
The Future: A World of More Frequent Extreme Events?
If the Central European floods are part of a broader pattern of extreme weather linked to climate change, what can we expect in the future? According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), there is little doubt that floods, storms, and other extreme events will increase in frequency and intensity in the coming years. Rising global temperatures are causing shifts in atmospheric and oceanic patterns, which in turn are leading to more unpredictable and severe weather.
This is a worrying prospect for communities that are already vulnerable to flooding. As sea levels rise and heavy rainfall events become more common, millions worldwide could be at risk. Coastal cities, in particular, must develop robust strategies to protect against flooding and storm surges. The floods in Central Europe are a tragic reminder of the power of nature and the urgency of addressing climate change. While it remains challenging to say with certainty that climate change directly caused the floods, the event fits into a pattern of increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather that scientists have long predicted.
References:
https://time.com/7022414/europe-floods-climate-change
https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGI_Chapter11.pdf
Banner image: ADRA International on X
Image Source: https://www.climatecentre.org/14490/central-europe-floods-may-be-the-worst-since-2002/
