US EditionAlps Could Face a Doubling in Torrential Summer Rainfall Frequency as Temperatures Rise by 2°C
- On June 20, 2025, scientists affiliated with institutions in Lausanne and Padova reported that intense, brief summer rainstorms are becoming more common in the Alpine region.
- The study examined summer rainfall measurements from close to 300 meteorological stations located throughout the Alpine regions of several European countries, including Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, and Italy, covering the period from 1991 to 2020 to evaluate how increasing temperatures influence rainfall intensity.
- Researchers determined that if the regional temperature increases by 2°C, the occurrence of intense summer downpours in the Alpine area could potentially double, as warmer air can hold approximately 7% more moisture per degree and the Alps are warming more rapidly than the global average.
- Francesco Marra, a study co-author, noted that summer storms are becoming more severe and this pattern is predicted to escalate in the near future, highlighting the need to modernize infrastructure accordingly.
- The study highlights the need for prompt adaptation measures, such as enhancing urban water drainage systems, because intensified storms in Alpine areas can lead to sudden floods and landslides that threaten infrastructure and human safety.
39 Articles
39 Articles
Flash floods in the Alps: How climate change is supercharging summer storms
Fierce, fast summer rainstorms are on the rise in the Alps, and a 2 C temperature increase could double their frequency. A new study from researchers at the University of Lausanne and the University of Padova used data from nearly 300 Alpine weather stations to model this unsettling future.
The Local - Ch
Why summers in the Alps will see far more intense rainfall in future
Short, intense summer rainfall in Europe's Alpine regions is likely to become more frequent and severe in the future because of global warming, according to a study released Thursday by the University of Lausanne (UNIL).
A 2°C warming can double the frequency of extreme summer downpours in the Alps
Intense short-duration summer rainfall in mountainous areas can trigger a variety of natural hazards, including flash floods, debris flows, and urban floods. Warming is expected to intensify extreme sub-hourly rainfall events in response to an increased atmospheric water vapor content and invigorated storm dynamics. Here, we employ a new physically-based statistical model to estimate the projected intensification of sub-hourly and hourly extreme…
A study by the University of Lausanne warns about the increase in torrential rains in the Alps due to global warming, with potentially disastrous consequences Rains
InsideNoVA.com
Climate change could double summer rainfall in the Alps: study
Short, intense summer rainfall in Alpine regions is likely to become more frequent and severe in the future because of global warming, according to a study released Thursday by the University of Lausanne (UNIL).
Climate researchers warn of an increase in heavy summer thunderstorms in the Alps. As the Alpine region warms up faster than the global average, it is particularly affected. Already a temperature rise of one degree can become problematic.
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