flood watch

[kenneal - lagger]

.........
Many large human settlements are very dependant on winter snowfall on nearby mountains.
During the Summer, the snow pack on the mountains gradually melts and results in a somewhat steady flow in the rivers upon which the settlements rely.
A warming climate results in more rain and less or no snow. The rain results in downstream floods since it promptly runs down the mountain.
The absence of snow to gradually melt during the summer results in lower river flows or even complete drying, and results in drought.

Northern India, Pakistan and China are very dependent on the snow fall in the Himalayas. Additional rainfall during the monsoon season would result in much less snowpack to keep rivers originating in the Himalayas going during the rest of the year.

[adam2]

Reliable reports state that the monsoon flooding in India is the worst for 100 years. Buildings that date from the colonial era have flooded for the first time ever.
Several hundred lives lost, and millions displaced.

I rather fear that this monsoon season may become the new normal.

[adam2]

Parts of California that were recently afflicted by large wildfires, are now suffering flooding, various media report.

[emordnilap]

Reliable reports state that the monsoon flooding in India is the worst for 100 years.

That figure again.

[RenewableCandy]

Parts of California that were recently afflicted by large wildfires, are now suffering flooding, various media report.

Particularly horrible since there are no longer the trees to hold the soil in place.

[vtsnowedin]

Parts of California that were recently afflicted by large wildfires, are now suffering flooding, various media report.

Particularly horrible since there are no longer the trees to hold the soil in place.

Yes indeed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ColHSgtPtu0

[adam2]

Whilst parts of Australia suffer from record breaking heat, other areas are suffering from another "once in a century" flood.
Crocodiles have been seen in suburban gardens.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-47112044

[BritDownUnder]

An old time take on drought and flood from an Australian poet.

SAID HANRAHAN

"We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan,
In accents most forlorn,
Outside the church, ere Mass began,
One frosty Sunday morn.
The congregation stood about,
Coat-collars to the ears,
And talked of stock, and crops, and drought,
As it had done for years.
"It's lookin' crook," said Daniel Croke;
"Bedad, it's cruke, me lad,
For never since the banks went broke
Has seasons been so bad."
"It's dry, all right," said young O'Neil,
With which astute remark
He squatted down upon his heel
And chewed a piece of bark.
And so around the chorus ran
"It's keepin' dry, no doubt."
"We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan,
"Before the year is out.
"The crops are done; ye'll have your work
To save one bag of grain;
From here way out to Back-o'-Bourke
They're singin' out for rain.
"They're singin' out for rain," he said,
"And all the tanks are dry."
The congregation scratched its head,
And gazed around the sky.
"There won't be grass, in any case,
Enough to feed an ass;
There's not a blade on Casey's place
As I came down to Mass."
"If rain don't come this month," said Dan,
And cleared his throat to speak--
"We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan,
"If rain don't come this week."
A heavy silence seemed to steal
On all at this remark;
And each man squatted on his heel,
And chewed a piece of bark.
"We want a inch of rain, we do,"
O'Neil observed at last;
But Croke "maintained" we wanted two
To put the danger past.
"If we don't get three inches, man,
Or four to break this drought,
We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan,
"Before the year is out."
In God's good time down came the rain;
And all the afternoon
On iron roof and window-pane
It drummed a homely tune.
And through the night it pattered still,
And lightsome, gladsome elves
On dripping spout and window-sill
Kept talking to themselves.
It pelted, pelted all day long,
A-singing at its work,
Till every heart took up the song
Way out to Back-o'Bourke.
And every creek a banker ran,
And dams filled overtop;
"We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan,
"If this rain doesn't stop."
And stop it did, in God's good time;
And spring came in to fold
A mantle o'er the hills sublime
Of green and pink and gold.
And days went by on dancing feet,
With harvest-hopes immense,
And laughing eyes beheld the wheat
Nid-nodding o'er the fence.
And, oh, the smiles on every face,
As happy lad and lass
Through grass knee-deep on Casey's place
Went riding down to Mass.
While round the church in clothes genteel
Discoursed the men of mark,
And each man squatted on his heel,
And chewed his piece of bark.
"There'll be bush-fires for sure, me man,
There will, without a doubt;
We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan,
"Before the year is out."

[raspberry-blower]

Mozambique and Zimbabwe have been devastated by Cyclone Idai

[mikepepler]

Mozambique and Zimbabwe have been devastated by Cyclone Idai

It barely made the news here as it was happening, everyone was focused on a terrorist attack. It was days later that the full scope was covered. Also, the coverage is mostly on the immediate problems, there's only a small mention of the crops that have been washed away (and topsoil too?).

I expect that disasters like this will happen more and more in the coming years, and in each case the recovery and rebuilding will not be complete, so there's a slow general decline in infrastructure.

[kenneal - lagger]

....., so there's a slow general decline in infrastructure ..

.... and an increase in migration away.

[mikepepler]

....., so there's a slow general decline in infrastructure ..

.... and an increase in migration away.

Yes - I've seen forecasts of a billion on the move within the next 10-20 years.

[adam2]

Latest reports on severe flooding in Lincolnshire.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-l ... e-48646801

RAF air dropping materials to repair breach in river bank.
Significant numbers evacuated, and many more about to be evacuated.
A residential area lacks electricity due to flooding of substation.

Said to be a once in a century event, again.

[kenneal - lagger]

This piece from the Environment Agency Chief is a bit over dramatised but then he's after a large amount of money to address climate change caused sea level rise and coastal and esturine flooding. People are hardly going to die from an event which will take decades to evolve.

[raspberry-blower]

The flooding in the Mid West is turning out to be an agricultural nightmare:

Zero Hedge: Shocking Before & After photos reveal the awful truth about widespread US crop failures