Recent heavy rainfall has caused unprecedented flooding across Central Europe, affecting nearly two million people in countries including Poland, Austria, and the Czech Republic.
The intense downpours occurred from September 12 to 15, leading to significant urban impacts, especially along the Polish-Czech border and in Austria. Tragically, at least 24 lives have been lost, with several individuals still missing.
Power outages were widespread, resulting in the closure of schools, factories, and even hospitals.
Emergency management systems, enhanced over the years due to past flooding events, faced immense pressure but largely functioned effectively, keeping the death toll significantly lower than in the historical floods of 1997 and 2002.
Emergency management systems are tested as communities respond to the devastating impacts of flooding.This severe weather was attributed to a rare Vb depression, characterized by cold polar air from the north colliding with warm southern air, producing heavy rainfall across Central Europe.
While the frequency of such depressions hasn’t changed significantly since the 1950s, the likelihood and intensity of heavy rainfall events have doubled since the pre-industrial era, a trend linked to human-induced climate change.
Climate models predict that as global temperatures rise, the frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall will continue to increase. By the time global temperatures rise by 2°C, we can expect a further 50% increase in the likelihood of extreme rainfall events.
The affected areas, notably urban centers along major rivers, have been identified as highly vulnerable to flooding. The total damage from this recent flooding is estimated to reach several billion euros.
While early warning systems and infrastructure investments have minimized loss of life, this event highlights the urgent need for ongoing improvements in flood defenses and emergency response strategies to combat the growing impacts of climate change.