Reasons, safety tips, key pointers as US faces deadly floods from Texas to New York
At least 134 people have died and over 100 remain missing after rivers like the Guadalupe in Texas rose by 8 meters in just one hour. Subway stations in New York were inundated. A tropical depression dumped nearly a foot of rain on parts of North Carolina in a single day, leaving six more dead.
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'This is not just a Texas problem. This is a climate problem,' says Dr. Joellen Russell, an oceanographer and climate modeler at the University of Arizona.
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Why it's happening
Scientists say the underlying cause is simple physics. A hotter atmosphere holds more water, about 6 percent more for every 1°C rise in temperature, and is now unloading it in more intense bursts.
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Data from the US Fifth National Climate Assessment confirms that extreme precipitation has increased by nearly 60 percent in the Northeast from 1958 to 2021, a trend only expected to worsen.
'Too much, too fast, that's the issue,' says Russell. 'No landscape, no matter how dry or prepared, can contain that volume of water.'
Oceans remain a crucial factor
Behind the scenes, the warming Gulf of Mexico plays a major role. According to Russell, the ocean has absorbed more than 90 percent of excess planetary heat from greenhouse gases, and that heat is now fueling rainfall.
'The Gulf is almost 2°C hotter than usual,' she says. 'That warm water feeds storms, making them wetter, slower, and more destructive.'
Not just the US
The disaster isn't isolated. Flash floods have hit Mexico, Pakistan, and Nigeria in recent weeks, as global heat waves warm air and water alike. With the US Commerce Department suspending the long-anticipated Atlas 15 rainfall data update, experts warn the country is flying blind into a wetter, more dangerous future.
Infrastructure under strain
Aging bridges, roads, and stormwater systems across America were never built for this level of stress. FEMA's flood maps, based on outdated rainfall data, are increasingly unreliable.
'The term '100-year flood' no longer means what we think,' Russell says. 'We're still using old baselines in a new climate era.'
What can you do to stay safe?
With climate extremes now a part of everyday life, Russell urges the public to take basic steps:
Enable local emergency alerts on phones, especially NOAA warnings.
Know your flood zone and evacuation routes.
Create a 'go bag' with essentials in case of rapid evacuation.
Form a communication plan with family, including pet arrangements.
FAQs
Is this level of flooding unusual?
Yes. July 2025 is already breaking records for flood-related fatalities and rainfall intensity in several states.
What areas are most at risk?
The Gulf Coast, Northeast, and parts of the Midwest, especially those near rivers, coasts, or wildfire burn scars, are vulnerable.
Will these storms keep happening?
Most likely, yes. With warming oceans and atmosphere, intense, slow-moving, and rain-heavy storms will become more frequent.
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