Storm-driven floods in Central Europe are increasingly fueled by climate change

A new study found human-caused climate change doubled the likelihood of the extreme rainfall behind recent floods in Central Europe, which killed 24 people and damaged critical infrastructure.

Suman Naishadham reports for The Associated Press.

In short:

Storm Boris caused record-breaking rainfall across Romania, Poland, Austria, and Germany, leading to deadly floods and widespread damage.
The study found the rainfall was 7-20% more intense due to climate change, and similar extreme events are likely to increase in frequency as global temperatures rise.
The floods overwhelmed infrastructure, leaving towns without power and requiring billions in repairs, with European leaders pledging financial aid.

Key quote:

"To see records being broken by such large margins, that is really the fingerprint of climate change. And that is only something that we see in a warming world."

— Friederike Otto, climate scientist at Imperial College, London

Why this matters:

As global warming accelerates, extreme weather events like the Central European floods will likely worsen, causing more frequent infrastructure failures, economic strain, and loss of life, particularly in vulnerable areas.

apnews.com

Credit: Marc A. Hermann/Metropolitan Transportation Authority

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