Jess Neumann
Associate Professor of Hydrology, University of Reading
The flash floods in Spain are another terrible reminder of the changing and more chaotic weather we are experiencing as a result of climate change.
“The storms have developed as a result of cooler air passing over the warm Mediterranean ocean, creating atmospheric instability and bringing with it torrential rain. These types of storms can develop quickly and with relatively short warning.
Local communities have reported walls of water up to three meters high. The loss of life shows us that we are not fully prepared to deal with storms like those that have hit southeastern Spain.
We need to give serious consideration to how we can better design our landscapes, towns and cities. In the longer term, this will need to include radical redesign of urban areas.
Flash floods can affect anyone, anywhere. We take preparation for other hazards such as earthquakes and tsunami very seriously with education, drills, and emergency kits. It is time we afforded the same to flood risk preparedness.