Flooding: More Likely, More Extreme and More Unpredictable

The rain began falling across Europe on July 12. The storm started over the United Kingdom and swept east across France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and then Germany. There it stalled for two days. During the pause, more than 20 centimeters (7.9 inches) of rain fell in east Belgium and 15 centimeters – a month’s worth – in 24 hours in the west of Germany.  Streams swelled, burst their banks and then the flash flooding started. Cars and houses were washed away; streets were smashed and covered in mud and, as the rain continued to fall, it triggered massive landslides so intense that part of…