This autumn, Europe is grappling with unusually severe weather, as seen in Spain’s recent catastrophic floods in Valencia. The event, which unfolded in October, significantly impacted the region, with floodwaters disrupting transportation, inundating homes, and leaving vehicles scattered along coastal areas. Reports indicate that the lives of at least 95 people were directly affected. Meanwhile, the United States is experiencing a starkly different pattern: a “flash drought” across many regions, due to exceptionally dry October conditions. Climate researchers have identified two main contributors to these extremes: rising air temperatures, which increase atmospheric moisture capacity, and irregularities in the jet stream—a critical wind current that influences global weather and, according to meteorologists, may now be moving slower, thereby prolonging extreme weather in certain areas.

Climate experts believe that a phenomenon called Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos (DANAs) influenced Valencia’s situation, trapping moist air within a low-pressure system, leading to sustained rain in the area. Meteorologists like Jennifer Francis from the Woodwell Climate Research Center attribute such extreme shifts in weather to a warming Arctic, which reduces temperature gradients between high and mid-latitudes and potentially disrupts the jet stream’s stability. Additionally, climate models suggest that warmer seas, like the Mediterranean this summer, contribute to higher humidity, which can then be released in intense rainfall. Scientists continue to investigate these links, but consensus holds that human-induced climate change is amplifying the severity of extreme weather, underscoring the pressing need for global climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.