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Valencia Floods: Climate Change Fueled Deadly Rains
18 Feb
Summary
- Climate change intensified rainfall, causing deadly floods in Valencia.
- Global warming increased rainfall rate by 21% and area by 56%.
- Record sea temperatures amplified storm intensity and rainfall.
In 2024, the Valencia region of Spain experienced devastating flash floods and landslides, exacerbated by man-made climate change. This climate event led to at least 230 fatalities and an estimated €29 billion in damages.
Scientific research indicates that global warming intensified the rainfall, making sudden, heavy rains more widespread. Simulations revealed a 21% increase in rainfall rate and a 56% increase in the area experiencing over 180 millimeters of rain during a critical six-hour period in today's warmer climate compared to pre-industrial times.
Record-high sea temperatures in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic amplified the water vapor in the atmosphere, contributing to the storm's ferocity. The intensity and wider distribution of rainfall highlight that climate-change-induced weather shocks are occurring now, not in the distant future.
Authorities are urged to accelerate infrastructure adaptation measures to better withstand these extreme rainfall events, particularly in the vulnerable Western Mediterranean.
