Europe battered by record floods in 2024

The continent experienced its most widespread flooding last year since 2013, as fossil fuel-driven climate change pushed it to endure its hottest year on record

Storms and flooding affected 413,000 people, with at least 335 lives lost

EUROPEAN RIVERS

Flood threshold
Severe
High

Spain, Oct: Floods kill at least 232 people in Valencia and three other provinces

Central Europe, Sep: Storm Boris dumps heaviest rain ever recorded in eight countries, including Austria, Czech Republic, Germany and Slovakia

EUROPEAN RIVER
NETWORKS EXPERIENCING
FLOODING 1992-2024 (%)


2024: Almost one third of Europe’s river network exceeded high flood threshold, while 12% breached severe flood levels

Average % flooded

0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35%
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020

Sources: European State of Climate report 2024, EFAS, CEMS/C3S/ECMWF
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