Climate Impacts: Global Extreme Weather Events This Week

The period from February 17 to February 24, 2025, witnessed a series of devastating climate events that underscore the growing urgency of addressing climate change. Across the globe, from the scorching heatwaves in Brazil and South Sudan to catastrophic rainfall-triggered disasters in South America and Africa, extreme weather took its toll on both lives and infrastructure. These events are a stark reminder of how unpredictable and dangerous the world’s changing climate has become.

Brazil: Scorching Heat Brings Medical Emergencies

Brazil has been enduring an extended period of excessive heat that has wreaked havoc on the population. Rio de Janeiro recorded its hottest day of the decade on February 18, with temperatures soaring to 44 °C. This unprecedented heatwave has caused thousands of people to seek medical attention for heat-related illnesses, overwhelming local healthcare systems. According to the official data, more than 5000 people have sought medical care at Unified Health System Units (SUS) since the beginning of 2025. Hospitals reported an uptick in cases of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat strokes, as citizens struggled to cope with the intense heat. The prolonged nature of this heatwave has raised alarms about the impact of climate change on the country's ability to manage such extreme weather events.

South Sudan: Schools Closed Due to Extreme Heat

In South Sudan, the extreme heat caused significant disruptions to daily life. In the capital, Juba, temperatures reached intolerable levels, forcing the closure of schools for two weeks. The scorching heat proved especially dangerous for students, with reports indicating that, on average, 12 students collapsed daily due to the extreme conditions. This situation highlights the challenges countries face in regions already vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

South America: Deadly Landslides in Ecuador and Peru

In South America, heavy rainfall triggered devastating landslides in Ecuador and Peru. These landslides swept away homes, roads, and essential infrastructure, causing widespread destruction. In Peru, 46 people have lost their lives since December, and more than 8,500 people have been displaced from their homes. The intense rainfall and the subsequent landslides have made recovery efforts particularly difficult, as affected communities continue to grapple with the loss of lives, property, and infrastructure. These events further demonstrate the increased frequency of extreme weather events in South America, driven by climate change.

Canada: Historic Snowstorm Strikes Toronto

While some parts of the world are suffering from extreme heat, others are dealing with brutal cold waves. Canada experienced a historic snowstorm that buried Toronto under an unprecedented amount of snow. This storm created the second-deepest snowpack on record for this decade, creating hazardous conditions for residents and disrupting daily life. Roads were blocked, schools were closed, and travel was severely limited as Toronto struggled to recover from this massive winter event. While snowstorms are not uncommon in Canada, this storm’s magnitude serves as a reminder of the erratic nature of weather patterns courtesy climate change.

United States: Frozen Floodwaters in Detroit

In the United States, Detroit faced a unique and perilous weather scenario as frozen floodwaters inundated the city. Nearly 400 homes were placed in “emergency flood zones” as a result of this phenomenon. The freezing floodwaters not only caused significant property damage but also posed major risks to public health and safety. As temperatures plummeted, residents faced the double threat of flooding and freezing conditions. The frozen floodwaters in Detroit exemplify the kind of unpredictable and dangerous weather events that have become more frequent in recent years due to global warming.

India: Ancient Spring dries up in Kashmir, triggering water crises in Himalayan state

A famed ancient spring, located in Achabal town of Jammu and Kashmir, ran dry for the first time in history. The spring has been a source of drinking water for 20 villages in the area. Experts have cited extreme dry weather conditions persisting since the beginning of the year. At present, the state is facing a ‘large rain’ deficit of 80%, which resulted in above-normal daytime temperatures of five to eight degrees. Although now replenished, with a fresh spell of snow and rainfall, the present conditions have reflected the impact of climate change on the changing weather patterns.

Africa: Flash Floods and Landslides Cause Devastation

Africa, too, was not spared from the chaos brought on by extreme weather. Heavy rains battered South Africa, Madagascar, and Botswana, triggering flash floods and landslides. In Botswana, the widespread flooding forced the closure of schools and major roads, disrupting daily life and forcing thousands of people to evacuate their homes. The rains caused at least 24 fatalities across the region and left entire communities devastated. The frequency of such floods and landslides in Southern Africa is rising, as climate change accelerates the occurrence of extreme weather events.

Conclusion

The extreme weather events of the week of February 17-24, 2025, serve as a chilling reminder of the intensifying effects of climate change on our planet. From life-threatening heatwaves to deadly floods and snowstorms, the scale and frequency of these events are reaching unprecedented levels.