Latest news with #extremeWeather
Skift
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Skift
An Event's Worst Enemy? The Weather. Here's How Planners Can Prepare
Rosé on the rooftop in New York City. Sunset cocktails on the Seine. An evening architecture cruise along the Chicago River. Countless carefully planned outdoor experiences like these have been ruined by weather. Events are increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather, according to a new report co-authored by Shawna McKinley, principal, Clear Current Consulting. It tracked 2,091 events over a 20-year period. Among the report's key findings: The number of reported incidents of storms, heat, wildfires, and flooding impacting event outcomes climbed between 2023 and 2024. The total number of reported event disruptions caused by extreme weather increased by 86.5%, with major storms playing a significant role. The threat of extreme heat, which has already reached over 40°C (104°F) this summer in parts of Europe, is different from other weather threats, said McKinley. 'Unlike major storms and hurricanes that typically cancel events outright, people still gather at events when it's hot,' she said. 'So on-site contingencies are needed to reduce heat exposure.' What Can Planners Do? McKinley recommends that planners look to their destination partners for information on weather risks, and advocates that destinations be prepared to provide this information. 'Bear in mind, though, that past weather may not fully predict future risk as climate changes. So destinations may need to refer to local, regional, and national climate projection models. Resilient destinations can translate these projections into briefs for travelers.' Some destinations are already taking steps to address the issue. Following the 2021 heat dome in British Columbia, the province developed planning resources to help event organizers with contingency planning, along with a province-wide alert system. Travel Alberta has prepared a landing page of wildfire-related information, including how to monitor for issues and sign up for notices and alerts. Among the tools planners can use to assess risk are the U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index, which publishes a map showing which communities are most impacted by changing climate. In Europe, a new report, Extreme Weather Risks for Tourism in the European Union, ranks destinations by their weather risk. Seasonality is also changing, with shoulder seasons — a popular choice for meetings — now at risk of less-than-optimal weather. 'Would you want to book a shoulder season winter incentive program in a destination where the number of winter days, and access to winter experiences, are shrinking? Probably not without a good back-up plan,' McKinley said. 'If you need predictable weather for your event to come off well, choose your timing and destination carefully, because things are changeable. Bear in mind, 'extreme' weather impacts on events aren't just about high damage/short duration events, but slow changes, like winter warming.'
Bloomberg
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Bloomberg
Why Extreme Rainfall Is Becoming More Frequent, and Deadlier
By Torrential rains that triggered floods and landslides have killed hundreds of people and displaced millions across parts of Africa, Europe, Asia and the US in the past year. The deluges overwhelmed even communities accustomed to extreme weather and showed the limitations of the early-warning systems and emergency protocols established in many countries to avoid major loss of life.
CBC
08-07-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Is Canada prepared for floods like the one that happened in Texas?
Social Sharing Last Friday's major flooding event in Texas, which killed 89 people including numerous children, has shattered local communities. Questions abound about whether adequate warnings were provided to the residents and campgoers, and if more could have been done to prevent such a tragic loss of lives. And now, some may be turning an eye closer to home, asking whether Canada is prepared for such an extreme weather event. The answer is yes … and no, according to some experts. "Canada's in a very good position, in the sense that we have actually done a lot of research to understand what we need to be doing at the level of homes and communities to reduce extreme weather risk, such as flooding," said Kathryn Bakos, managing director of finance and resilience at the University of Waterloo's Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation. "The problem — and where Canada falls short — is actually the implementation of those actions. And so there's a lot that we know we should be doing, and yet, for various reasons, we are not." WATCH | Time-lapse footage shows waters rising over Texas causeway: Time-lapse footage shows waters rising over Texas causeway 20 hours ago Duration 0:30 Time-lapse video provided to Reuters by a witness shows floodwaters rising on July 4 in Kingsland, Texas, as part of the state endured devastating flash flooding. Flood-risk maps One of the ways in which Canada isn't prepared is that most flood-risk maps are out of date, with some being decades old. And Canada is no stranger to flood events. In June 2013, a major flood in Calgary from the Bow River overflowing its banks caused an estimated $6 billion in financial and property losses. Five people died. It was one of the costliest weather events in Canadian history. Weeks later, Toronto experienced a major rainfall event that prompted flooding throughout the city. In just 90 minutes, it received 126 millimetres of rain — more than a month's worth — causing the Don River to overflow onto the Don Valley Parkway, the main north-south thoroughfare into the city. On the other side of the river, a commuter train was trapped with hundreds of people on board for roughly seven hours. The incident cost the city $1 billion in damages. With climate change, there's also more evidence that much of Canada will experience an increase of heavy precipitation. "We need to be taking into consideration the the changing and evolving nature of our environment due to climate change," Bakos said. "There are going to be escalating extreme weather risks as we go forward, due to flooding, wildfire risk [and] extreme heat risk in the system." The good news is that last month the federal government announced that it will be investing in flood mapping and adaptation projects. Outdated maps Walter Regan, former president of the Sackville Rivers Association in Nova Scotia, had advocated for 37 years for an updated flood plain map from the town. These maps show areas that are at risk of flooding. It finally happened last year. This is the third version of the map, Regan said. But there is one downside. "Unfortunately, it does not do the entire Sackville River. It just says a portion of it. But that's major progress, and also this time around … they use climate change models to reflect the potential flooding." In 2023, Halifax experienced one of the worst flooding events in its history. On July 21, more than 250 millimetres of rain fell in just 24 hours. While no one died in the city, four people were killed in nearby West Hants and a state of emergency was declared. Regan said that the flood maps were roughly 95 per cent accurate. WATCH | Emergency alerts delayed by almost 2 hours in N.S. fatal 2023 floods, report finds: Emergency alerts delayed by almost 2 hours in N.S. fatal 2023 floods, report finds 1 year ago Duration 2:08 A new report on last year's fatal flash flooding in Nova Scotia finds that the emergency public alert system was delayed by nearly two hours. The parents of one child who died say this tragedy could have been avoided if better systems were in place. Why was he so adamant that the maps be updated? "We have car seats for children. We have hard hats for workers.... The flood plain zoning is a public protection measure that's cost-effective and long overdue," he said. "The province should take the lead and protect the citizenry. That's good governance." Bakos said it's important to bring flood-risk maps up to date across the entire country. "On average, across Canada, flood-risk maps are 20 to 25 years out of date. Those flood-risk maps are going to be able to help us identify where there is the greatest risk in the system," she said. And once we've identified the risks, she said, we need to implement flood control systems such as dams, diversion channels and holding ponds. When it comes to urban environments, she says we need to complement grey infrastructure — like sidewalks — with green infrastructure like grasslands and forested areas. No flash flood warning system While Environment and Climate Change Canada issues weather watches and warnings for things like tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and rainfall, it doesn't for floods — that's under provincial jurisdiction, says Dave Sills. "So the federal government isn't allowed to issue a flash flood watch or warning. They issue a heavy rain warning instead," says Sills, who is the deputy director of the new Canadian Severe Storms Laboratory at Western University in London, Ont. Should there be a national flood alert system? "It's hard to say, because it's something that's needed and ... possible, but it would take someone to really push hard for it to happen," he said. "You know, like in Ontario, we have air quality warnings that are issued jointly by Environment Canada and the province. And that's the same kind of thing that's needed.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Texas flooding death toll rises
The floods in central Texas are among the deadliest in the US for over a century. At least 81 people, including dozens of children, are dead and more than 40 still missing, with a huge search-and-rescue operation underway. As the state grapples with the tragedy, it is also confronting the reality of extreme weather events that are becoming ever more frequent. Insurance premiums are up — they rose 19% last year and 21% in 2023, The Washington Post reported recently — and many Texas homes are now uninsurable. The problem is particularly acute as the state has seen huge population growth in recent years, especially in popular metro areas such as Houston and Austin, partly thanks to its low housing costs.
Bloomberg
02-07-2025
- Climate
- Bloomberg
China Braces for More Heavy Rain as Floods Kill Several People
China is bracing for more intense rainfall, in the latest extreme weather event that has left several dead and flooded some cities in the country. Heavy downpours are forecast this week to batter parts of northern and northeastern China, including major cities like Beijing and Tianjin, raising risks of geological disaster and flooding. Some areas in Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces are expecting severe thunderstorms or hailstorms, and perhaps tornadoes, according to the weather bureau.
