Weather extremes of 2024 leading to intense floods, droughts

2024 has seen unprecedented heat, with record-breaking temperatures pushing the global water cycle to new extremes. A recent report by The Australian National University (ANU) highlighted how rising temperatures contributed to devastating floods and severe droughts worldwide.

In 2024, nearly half of the world’s population, around four billion people, experienced the hottest year on record. Air temperatures over land were 1.2 degrees Celsius higher than at the start of the century and about 2.2 degrees higher than pre-industrial levels. This marks the fourth consecutive year of record-breaking global temperatures, with water systems bearing the most significant impacts.

Professor van Dijk warned that these extreme weather events are part of a worsening trend of intense floods, prolonged droughts, and other extremes, disrupting communities, economies, and ecosystems worldwide.

In 2024, water-related disasters like flash floods, river floods, droughts, tropical cyclones, and landslides were among the most destructive events. They killed over 8,700 people, displaced over 40 million, and caused economic losses exceeding $550 billion.

Highlighted disasters

• Flash floods in Afghanistan and Pakistan from heavy rainfall killed over 1,000 people and displaced thousands.

• In Brazil, catastrophic flooding caused over 80 deaths, with some regions recording over 300 millimeters of rain.

• In China, rivers like the Yangtze and Pearl flooded cities and towns, displacing tens of thousands and causing hundreds of millions in crop damage.

• In August, severe river flooding in Bangladesh affected over 5.8 million people and destroyed over one million tonnes of rice.

• In Spain, an October rainstorm caused deadly flash floods, with over 500 millimeters of rain falling in eight hours.

Some regions faced intense flooding, while others endured crippling droughts. In the Amazon Basin, record-low river levels cut off transport routes and disrupted hydropower generation. The hot, dry weather caused wildfires that burned over 52,000 square kilometers in September, releasing massive carbon dioxide emissions.

In southern Africa, a severe drought reduced maize production, leaving 30 million people facing food shortages. It also reduced hydropower output, causing widespread blackouts.

Prepare for extreme weather events

Professor van Dijk emphasised the importance of preparing for extreme events. This includes stronger flood defenses, drought-resistant food and water supplies, and improved early-warning systems. Water is our most vital resource, and its extremes—floods and droughts—threaten human societies and ecosystems.

The report’s research team used data from thousands of ground stations and satellites to provide near-real-time insights into key water-related variables like rainfall, soil moisture, river flows, and flooding. This technology allowed the team to track and analyse weather events in unprecedented detail.

As global warming intensifies, 2024 saw India experiencing record-high precipitation and regions in West Africa and Europe. Rising sea surface temperatures strengthened monsoons, cyclones, and storm systems, exacerbating floods and droughts worldwide.

“2024 was a year of extremes, but not an isolated occurrence,” said van Dijk. “It is part of a worsening trend of more intense floods, longer-lasting droughts, and record-breaking extremes globally.”

Fossil fuels worsen 2024 weather extremes

Besides the water-related events, the World Weather Attribution and Climate Central reviewed heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and other extreme weather events in 2024. Their findings showed that nearly every studied weather event was intensified and made more frequent due to ongoing fossil fuel burning.

2024 was the hottest year on record, with global temperatures exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. This milestone is significant, as exceeding this temperature for several consecutive years could breach the Paris Agreement's limit for global warming, leading to more severe consequences for the planet.

Climate change worsened 2024 heatwaves, making nearly every one hotter and exposing people to an additional 41 days of dangerous heat. Warmer oceans fuelled stronger tropical cyclones, like Hurricane Helene, the deadliest to hit the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Katrina, killing over 230 people.

The Amazon drought was notable, with studies showing climate change made the event 30 times more likely. The Amazon Rainforest plays a crucial role in carbon storage, and continued warming could lead to widespread tree dieback, intensifying climate change in a harmful feedback loop.

While El Niño influenced weather patterns, the report found climate change was the primary driver behind many extreme events in 2024.

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