Flash flood warnings drench the region
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Storms sweeping through the U.S. this summer have dumped intense rain on cities nationwide, including dozens of communities across the Pittsburgh area.
The big picture: Scientists who spoke to Axios say the deadly floods in Texas that killed more than 130 people underscore the risk that climate change can worsen extreme rainfall events.
Zoom in: 112 flash flood warnings have been issued in the greater Pittsburgh region through July 17, according to National Weather Service data.
- That's more than the past three years combined and the most since 2003, when two hurricanes descended on the region contributing to more than 300 flash flood warnings that year.
- Allegheny County saw the most in the region, with 29 warnings, the second-highest total of any county in the nation, just behind Sumner County, Tennessee (33).
Zoom out: In North Carolina, Tropical Storm Chantal rapidly formed — and slowly drenched the state with flooding rains.
- Last week, storms sparked floods in New Mexico that killed three in the village of Ruidoso.
- Widespread rainfall along the I-95 corridor in the mid-Atlantic last week set off flash flood warnings, grounded flights and sent torrents rushing through New York City subway stations.
- In New Jersey, two people died after the vehicle they were in was swept away by floodwaters.
Context: Climate change "is supercharging the water cycle," sparking heavier precipitation extremes and related flood risks, according to Climate Central, a climate research group.
- Among 144 U.S. cities analyzed by the group in a report from earlier this year, 88% experienced an increase in hourly rainfall intensity from 1970 to 2024.
- The summer months already provide the weather patterns for higher rainfall rates in some regions, and climate change makes that risk worse.
Go deeper: Why flash floods like those in Texas and New York are becoming more common