Extreme rainfall

Consecutive extreme heat and flooding events in Argentina highlight the risk of managing increasingly frequent and intense hazards in a warming climate

Ruta 3 highway in Bahía Blanca was damaged by the floods. Credit: Vialidad Nacional jurisdicción Bahía Blanca

On 7 March, 2025, Bahía Blanca, Argentina, experienced an unprecedented rainfall event with over 300 mm of rain in just 8 hours, nearly half of the city’s annual average. This extreme event, the heaviest in the city’s recorded history (1956-present), was caused by a cold front reaching the area after several days of hot, humid … Continue reading “Consecutive extreme heat and flooding events in Argentina highlight the risk of managing increasingly frequent and intense hazards in a warming climate”

Increasing extreme rainfall and rapid urbanisation, major drivers behind Gaborone’s deadly floods

Gaborone, Botswana - February 20th 2025: Flooding of the Segoditshane river in Gaborone, Botswana, Africa. Bashi Kikia / Shutterstock.com.

In mid-February 2025, southern Botswana and eastern South Africa were hit by heavy rainfall, sparking severe flooding across the region. The floods claimed at least 31 lives, including 22 in KwaZulu-Natal (Mhlophe-Gumede, 2025), near Durban, and at least nine in Botswana’s capital, Gaborone, amongst them six children (Government of Botswana, 2025). At least 5,000 people … Continue reading “Increasing extreme rainfall and rapid urbanisation, major drivers behind Gaborone’s deadly floods”