In early September, disastrous floods in Europe killed 24 and affected millions, causing economic damage worth $2 to 3 billion. The unparalleled storm, known as Storm Boris, brought five times the monthly average rainfall onto Central European countries, leading to four missing people and the isolation of several villages. The impacts of climate change exacerbated the intensity of the storm, providing a bleak glimpse of its effects on the planet’s fastest-warming continent.
Storm Boris, a slow-moving deluge, remained in the region for days. The extended rainfall fully saturated the ground before overflowing lakes and rivers within Austria, Germany, Hungary, and more. In Jelenia Gora, Poland, streets were flooded after an embankment burst on the Bobr River, leading to further evacuation and helicopter aid. Supplies and communications were completely cut off in some flooded areas, resorting to satellite services, as stated by Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Climate scientists at the World Weather Attribution (WWA) said the amount of rainfall will continue to increase if the planet consistently heats up. Principles in basic physics dictate warmer temperatures can retain more water, leading to more rainfall. Experts predict that for each degree the planet warms up, the atmosphere will expel 7% more water. Water systems in the area, such as the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, were uncharacteristically warm this year, further augmenting the problem. The climate crisis will continue to bring intense heat waves while also releasing more extreme rainfall, specifically over Northern and Central Europe. In adapting to the planet rather than resisting, governments in Central Europe have implemented early warning systems, allowing for early evacuations within the area and preventative water release measures. The rainfall brought by Boris is still rare, but if the planet warms another 2 degrees C, similar instances will become 50% more frequent and 5% more intense, per the WWA. Members of the European Parliament state by quickly adapting to the impact of climate change and creating cross-border cooperation, future damage can be prevented. Through collaborative efforts listed by the Paris Agreement, keeping future global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius will cut future damage in half.
By Anisha Parmar