When Hurricane Dorian, seen here from the International Space Station, stalled over the Bahamas in September 2019, its winds, rain and storm surge devastated the islands.
NASA
Hurricane stalling has become common over the past half-century, and their average forward speed has also slowed.
Storm surge can push water levels well above normal sea level during a hurricane.
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How destructive storm surge gets depends on both the hurricane and the shape of the land.
A downpour or a drizzle: What causes the difference?
David Pinzer Photography/Moment via Getty Images
Some rainstorms drench you in a second, while others drop rain in a nice peaceful drizzle. A meteorologist explains how rainstorms can be so different.
An aerial view of a part of Lagos.
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High temperatures, periods of increased relative humidity and more rainfall are likely to happen more in Nigeria’s coastal region under future global warming.
Local coroanvirus awareness raising in Funkia Market, Sierra Leone.
Trocaire/Flickr
Overlapping disasters of COVID-19 and flooding could be a serious threat for Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown.
Parts of Kenya have flooded as a result of Lake Victoria’s rising levels.
Photo by CASMIR ODUOR/AFP via Getty Images
The flooding has affected water resources, agriculture and food security, health and sanitation, fisheries, and energy and infrastructure.
The River Caldew in Cumbria.
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Efforts to engineer Britain’s rivers over the past 75 years have only made flooding worse.
Maine’s Penobscot River flows freely where the Veazie Dam once stood. Dam removals have reopened the river to 12 native fish species.
Gregory Rec/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images
Thousands of dams across the US are aging and overdue for maintenance. Taking them down can revive rivers, restore fish runs and create new opportunities for tourism and outdoor activities.
Flood waters surround Keyano College and Fort McMurray Composite High School in late April 2020.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Greg Halinda
Blaming flooding on an act of God wrongly absolves government and developers of their liability for poor decisions that unfairly burden taxpayers.
The Oosterscheldekering helps protect the Netherlands from North Sea flooding.
XL Creations / shutterstock
A new study suggests raising dykes along a third of Europe’s coastline, but there are more cost-effective options.
When deadly tornadoes struck the Southeast in April, residents in Prentiss, Mississippi, struggled to keep up coronavirus precautions while salvaging what they could from their damaged properties.
AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis
If the forecasts are right, the US could be facing more natural disasters this year – on top of the coronavirus pandemic. Local governments aren’t prepared.
paintings/Shutterstock
The disasters have come one after another. While they may not be entirely preventable, we can take many practical steps tailored to local needs and conditions to reduce the impacts on our cities.
Adam Blakemore/Shutterstock
When resources are drained, people are tired and communities are recovering from trauma, social connection is vital.
Lagos residents need to know more about the risk of heavy storms.
Pius Utomi Ekpe/AFP via Getty Images
Lagos is vulnerable to heavy storms but the impact can be mitigated with better preparation.
An earthquake drill for passengers and staff at Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, the world’s busiest train station by passenger numbers.
Franck Robichon/EPA
Japan took a fresh approach to ensuring their society was more resilient to the frequent earthquakes they experience. We could learn from its experience.
A fireman adjusts a hose in front of a house with a visible mark on its wall of where the flood level reached during the cleanup after storm Dennis in Crickhowell, Wales, February 17 2020.
EPA-EFE/DIMITRIS LEGAKIS
Residents need the necessary support to adapt their homes and make collective decisions about flood prevention.
On the move.
Ben Birchall/PA Wire/PA Images
Coming to a river catchment near you: a rodent crack team ready to reduce flooding and boost biodiversity.
A soldier stands guard at the damaged entrance to Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida, Oct. 11, 2018, after Hurricane Michael.
AP Photo/David Goldman
US military leaders have to plan for operations all over the world, so they can’t afford to ignore climate change or debate its causes.
Peter Lorrimer/AAP
Some parts of Australia have enjoyed excellent rainfall this year, but others have not. Drought relief is still slow and patchy.
River erosion in Bangladesh, Sept. 12, 2019.
Zakir Hossain Chowdhury / Barcroft Media via Getty Images
Bangladesh is on the front lines of climate change, but factors including money, gender and religion make some Bangladeshis much more vulnerable than others. Can it find inclusive ways to cope?