The deluge has claimed over 20 lives in Romania, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Austria, with many individuals still missing since heavy rains began last Thursday. Thousands have been displaced, with authorities in Poland urging the evacuation of 42,000 residents in anticipation of further rainfall.
“These floods serve as a stark reminder of the escalating threat posed by climate-induced extreme weather,” stated Sissi Knispel de Acosta, general secretary of the European Climate Research Alliance, which comprises various global warming research organizations.
The unprecedented rainfall is attributed to Storm Boris, a slow-moving low-pressure system that has released five times the average September rainfall in just four days. This system was intensified by a surge of Arctic air, causing temperatures to plummet rapidly. While late summer polar blasts are not unheard of, their frequency may increase due to climate change, according to climatologist Richard Rood from the University of Michigan.
The cold air mixed with warmer, moisture-laden air from the south, fueled by an unusually warm Mediterranean Sea that recorded its highest temperatures last month.
“The warming climate influences every storm or weather event,” Dr. Rood explained. “It’s impossible for extreme events not to be related to climate change.” Although flooding has always been a natural occurrence, heavier rainfall is becoming more frequent as greenhouse gas emissions rise from fossil fuel consumption. Increased temperatures allow the atmosphere to hold more moisture, leading to more intense storms.
“To avert catastrophic outcomes in the future, Europe must accelerate its flood adaptation strategies,” Dr. Knispel de Acosta urged, suggesting improved stormwater management, better urban planning, enhanced early warning systems, and investments in green infrastructure.
“Our infrastructure was designed for a climate that no longer exists,” noted Diana Urge-Vorsatz, a professor at Central European University and vice chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Even experts can underestimate the impact of these increasingly common storms.
Before Storm Boris struck, Dr. Urge-Vorsatz was advised by a colleague to stock up on supplies for at least three days. Ignoring the warning, she soon faced rising floodwaters and strong winds threatening her home near Vienna.
“We recognize that rainfall is becoming more intense and frequent, yet we often underestimate its impact when it arrives,” she remarked. “We think it will happen to others, not to us.”
Strong winds devastated neighborhoods, toppling trees, closing schools, and submerging roadways and transit systems. Power outages affected tens of thousands as floodwaters continued to rise, with predictions of flooding reaching eastern Germany.
Survivors from Poland and the Czech Republic hurried to evacuate as others began the arduous cleanup from the worst flooding in over two decades. Areas along the Czech-Polish border faced severe damage, with heavy rains collapsing bridges and damaging vehicles and homes.
At least 20 fatalities have been reported in the recent flooding, prompting Poland's government to declare a natural disaster and allocate 1 billion zlotys ($260 million) for aid.
In the northeastern Czech city of Ostrava, a breached river barrier caused significant flooding in the industrial zone, displacing hundreds. In Litovel, around 70% of the town was submerged, with residents expressing their fears as waters rose rapidly.
The Polish government is coordinating with other affected nations to seek European Union assistance. Residents have described the devastation as apocalyptic, with one saying, “We are practically cut off from the world.”
As some areas begin to recover, others remain on high alert, preparing for potential further flooding as river levels rise.