BRUSSELS — Europe experienced its most extensive flooding since 2013 last year, with significant floods impacting 30% of the continent’s river systems, according to scientists on Tuesday (April 15). The trend was linked to climate change driven by fossil fuel emissions, which continues to fuel heavy rainfall and other severe weather events.

In 2024, floods claimed the lives of at least 335 people across Europe and affected over 410,000 individuals, according to a joint report from the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). Western Europe bore the brunt of the damage, with 2024 ranking among its ten wettest years since records began in 1950. Flooding and storms remain the most expensive forms of extreme weather in Europe, causing over €18 billion in damages last year.

On a global scale, 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded, including in Europe, which is warming faster than any other continent. The average global temperature is now about 1.3°C higher than pre-industrial levels, largely due to human activities. “Every small increase in temperature heightens the risks to human life, economies, and the environment,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.

The report also highlighted some positives — renewable energy sources contributed a record 45% of Europe’s power in 2024, and most European cities have developed climate adaptation strategies. Nonetheless, extreme weather events occurred throughout the continent. Southeastern Europe experienced its longest recorded heatwave (13 days), Scandinavian glaciers shrank faster than ever, and heat-related stress intensified.

While western Europe battled floods, eastern regions faced droughts and dry conditions. About one-third of European rivers exceeded high flood levels, with 12% reaching severe thresholds. A major flood in Valencia in late October was the deadliest and most destructive, claiming 232 lives. In September, Storm Boris unleashed record-breaking rainfall over Central Europe, impacting Austria, Czechia, Germany, and Slovakia.

Scientists attribute such heavy rainfall to climate change, as warmer air retains more moisture, increasing the risk of intense downpours. In 2024, atmospheric moisture levels hit a record high. Flood risks are also affected by factors like river management and how cities are planned—especially regarding construction in flood-prone zones.