• Destructive flooding strikes French and Swiss Alps

    Heavy rainfall and snowmelt caused catastrophic flooding in the French and Swiss Alps on June 11, 2024. In the French village of La Berarde, 97 people were stranded, and in Switzerland’s Zermatt, the Mattervispa river flooded the town center.

  • Saharan dust cloud engulfs central Europe, impacts air quality in Italy, Slovenia and Croatia

    A large Saharan dust cloud engulfed parts of central Europe, most notably Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia, on Friday, June 21, 2024, significantly affecting air quality in the region. The intensity and relatively high number of Saharan dust intrusions in recent months have raised questions about the possibility that these events are related to changes in atmospheric circulation patterns.

  • Tropical Storm “Alberto” makes landfall in Tampico, Mexico, causing flooding and fatalities

    Tropical Storm “Alberto” made landfall near the Mexican city of Tampico, Tamaulipas, shortly after 09:00 UTC on June 20, 2024, with maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h (50 mph). The storm brought heavy rains, causing widespread coastal flooding in Mexico, where at least 3 people lost their lives. In the United States, Alberto caused a significant storm surge in Texas and Louisiana even before making landfall in Mexico.

  • Extreme rainstorms flood China’s Guangdong and Fujian

    Extremely heavy rains have been battering southern China for the past week as the country entered its main flood season, resulting in deadly floods and landslides that have severely impacted the provinces of Guangdong and Fujian. As of June 18, 2024, 5 people have been confirmed dead in Guangdong, and 17 are missing. In Fujian, at least 4 people have died and 2 remain missing.

  • Extremely heavy rains hit Abidjan, causing deadly floods, Ivory Coast

    Severe flooding hit Ivory Coast’s largest city, Abidjan after heavy rains triggered devastating floods and landslides on Thursday, June 13, 2024. The floods caused widespread disruption, claiming the lives of at least 8 people, injuring at least 18, and overwhelming the city’s infrastructure. Unconfirmed reports on Monday, June 17, mention as many as 61 fatalities.