From heatwaves to droughts and flash floods, the world has seen multiple extreme weather events over the course of 2024.
Scientists blame climate change for exacerbating weather events, by increasing their intensity, duration and extent, expecting a heavy economic damage over the coming years. The year 2024 has brought severe climate disasters to many countries around the world, with experts warning of the impacts of human-caused climate change.
2024: Hottest Year on Record
2024 is on track to become the hottest on record, according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). Scientists also expect extraordinarily high temperatures to continue through the first months of 2025.
The C3S data for the first 11 months of 2024 confirms that it will be the hottest since records began, and the first in which average global temperatures exceed 1.5 Celsius above the pre-industrial levels.
In the light of this, the Deputy Director of C3S, Samantha Burgess, said: “After 10 months of 2024 it is now virtually certain that 2024 will be the warmest year on record and the first year of more than 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels according to the ERA5 dataset.”
Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events
Several scientific studies have cited human-caused climate change as the main driver behind extreme weather events. Severe heatwaves of increased intensity and frequency have hit many countries across the world, bringing fierce floods, storms, droughts and wildfires.
During 2024, wildfires resulting from severe droughts raged across North and Latin America, according to the EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (Cams). With regards to this, the senior scientist at Cams, Mark Parrington, said: “The scale of some of the fires in 2024 were at historic levels, especially in Bolivia, the Pantanal and parts of the Amazon. Canadian wildfires were again extreme although not at the record scale of 2023.”
Moreover, hurricanes and strong thunderstorms have hit countries like the US and Philippines. Countries in Europe, Africa and Asia have experienced heavy rain and fatal floods that claimed the lives of thousands of people.
Fierce Storms
Throughout 2024, the US has been ravaged by fierce storms that have intensified to strong hurricanes. In October, Hurricane Milton, a category-5 storm, hit Florida, causing devastating damage and mass evacuations, and killing at least 24 people. Milton came on the heels of Hurricane Helene, which killed 230 people. Hurricane Milton also hit Mexico and the Bahamas.
In July 2024, parts of Asia were hit by Typhoon Gaemi, a powerful storm that caused heavy rainfall and strong gusts of wind. Typhoon Gaemi struck the Philippines, Taiwan, and China, causing casualties and devastating damage. China was already suffering weeks of floods which claimed the lives of at least 38 people and caused heavy economic loss.
Deadly Floods Ravage the World
Over the course of 2024, rising global temperatures have caused unprecedented weather patterns, with heavy rainfall and severe flood sweeping many parts around the world. In April, heavy rain led to flash floods in Kenya, destroying dams and overwhelming streets. As of May 2024, the death toll was estimated at 210 people, with dozens more missing.
Also in April 2024, the Arabian Gulf region witnessed heavy rainfall that caused severe flash floods. The UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia experienced a low-pressure system that resulted in strong winds, thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and flash floods.
Oman and the UAE took the biggest hit, with at least 20 people killed in Oman, and power outages and flight disruptions hitting Dubai. This low-pressure system moved south and caused storms and strong rains over northern Pakistan and Afghanistan, killing 50 people.
Moreover, heavy floods hit the Rio Grande do Sul state in southern Brazil, from April 29 to May, 2024. The severe floods claimed the lives of 181 people, caused widespread landslides, and destroyed a dam.
Bangladesh Crisis
Bangladesh has been one of the worst-hit countries by climate change, enduring waves of flash floods in the span of months. In May and June 2024, the south Asian country witnessed waves of flooding, submerging homes, stranding over 2 million people and killing dozens.
In August, Bangladesh endured one of the worst floods which claimed the lives of at least 54 people and stranded millions. The three extreme weather events collectively affected more than 13 million people in Bangladesh, including 5 million children.
Spain Flash Floods
Spain experienced one of its deadliest floods in decades in October 2024. Torrential rainfall led to flash floods in eastern Spain, running homes, disrupting transportation and trapping people. At least 200 people lost their lives in the regions of Valencia, Castilla La Mancha, and Andalusia.
Scientists attributed the deadly natural disaster to causes linked to human-caused climate change and the unusually high temperature of the Mediterranean Sea.
