April storms that killed 24 in US made more severe by burning fossil fuels
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Introduction:
The news topic “April storms that killed 24 in US made more severe by burning fossil fuels” has drawn international attention, with various media outlets providing diverse insights, historical context, political stances, and on-the-ground developments. Below is a curated overview of how different countries and media organizations have covered this topic recently.
Quick Summary:
- The four-day historic storm that caused death and destruction across the central Mississippi valley in early April was made significantly more likely and more severe by burning fossil fuels. Record quantities of rain were dumped across eight southern and midwestern states between 3 and 6 April, causing widespread catastrophic flooding that killed at least 15 people. Another nine people died as a result of tornadoes and strong winds, and the economic damages have been estimated to be between $80bn and $90bn. The floods were caused by rainfall made about 9% more intense and 40% more likely by human-caused climate change, the World Weather Attribution (WWA) study found. Uncertainty in models means the role of the climate crisis was probably even higher, according to the study. The region has been pummeled by multiple deadly storms over recent years including Hurricane Helene in September.
- The storms that tore through eight U.S. states in early April, killing at least 24 people, were made significantly worse by climate change. The powerful storms destroyed homes, roads and farmland. The storm’s intensity was fueled in part by unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, which were about 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2°F) hotter than normal. The researchers said that while strong forecasts and early warnings likely reduced the scope of the damage, they worry about the impact of ongoing staff shortages at the National Weather Service. The strain on insurance markets is also becoming clear as climate change drives more frequent and severe weather, the researchers said. The study found the four days of rainfall was the heaviest ever recorded for the region. It also found that the storms were 14 times more likely to occur in the future.
- A four-day severe weather event unfolded across the Plains, Midwest and Central U.S. during Easter weekend, April 17-20, 2025, killing at least three people. 60 tornadoes touched down from Iowa and Nebraska to Texas during this Easter weekend rash of severe weather. There were also over 400 reports of large hail and damaging thunderstorm winds, according to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center.Here’s a recap of the storms and the damage that was caused. On April 17: A pair of supercell thunderstorms raked across eastern Nebraska into western Iowa Thursday, spawning six tornadoes, damaging hail and destructive winds. The northern supercell first produced wind gusts to 82 mph in Dodge County, Nebraska. Hail up to the size of baseballs, driven by those intense winds, damaged the siding of homes in Fremont.
Country-by-Country Breakdown:
Original Coverage
The four-day historic storm that caused death and destruction across the central Mississippi valley in early April was made significantly more likely and more severe by burning fossil fuels. Record quantities of rain were dumped across eight southern and midwestern states between 3 and 6 April, causing widespread catastrophic flooding that killed at least 15 people. Another nine people died as a result of tornadoes and strong winds, and the economic damages have been estimated to be between $80bn and $90bn. The floods were caused by rainfall made about 9% more intense and 40% more likely by human-caused climate change, the World Weather Attribution (WWA) study found. Uncertainty in models means the role of the climate crisis was probably even higher, according to the study. The region has been pummeled by multiple deadly storms over recent years including Hurricane Helene in September. Read full article
Climate change made recent flooding in Midwest, South more intense, report finds
The storms that tore through eight U.S. states in early April, killing at least 24 people, were made significantly worse by climate change. The powerful storms destroyed homes, roads and farmland. The storm’s intensity was fueled in part by unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, which were about 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2°F) hotter than normal. The researchers said that while strong forecasts and early warnings likely reduced the scope of the damage, they worry about the impact of ongoing staff shortages at the National Weather Service. The strain on insurance markets is also becoming clear as climate change drives more frequent and severe weather, the researchers said. The study found the four days of rainfall was the heaviest ever recorded for the region. It also found that the storms were 14 times more likely to occur in the future. Read full article
RECAP: Severe Weather, Including Tornadoes, Tears Through Plains, Midwest, Southern U.S. Easter Weekend
A four-day severe weather event unfolded across the Plains, Midwest and Central U.S. during Easter weekend, April 17-20, 2025, killing at least three people. 60 tornadoes touched down from Iowa and Nebraska to Texas during this Easter weekend rash of severe weather. There were also over 400 reports of large hail and damaging thunderstorm winds, according to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center.Here’s a recap of the storms and the damage that was caused. On April 17: A pair of supercell thunderstorms raked across eastern Nebraska into western Iowa Thursday, spawning six tornadoes, damaging hail and destructive winds. The northern supercell first produced wind gusts to 82 mph in Dodge County, Nebraska. Hail up to the size of baseballs, driven by those intense winds, damaged the siding of homes in Fremont. Read full article
How 2024 became such an exceptional year for tornadoes
From January through November, the U.S. recorded 1,762 tornadoes. That’s the highest number in a decade, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The twisters tended to be strong and destructive, especially the unusually powerful tornadoes that spawned from Hurricane Milton in October. The flurry of tornado activity adds to an already sizable and growing set of concerns about the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather. But unlike events like heat waves or wildfires, which have clear links to rising temperatures, researchers are still working to understand why this was such an exceptional tornado year, including possible connections to climate change. It was “kind of like death by 1,000 paper cuts,” said Victor Gensini, a professor of meteorology at Northern Illinois University. “When you start aggregating them all together, what you get is a pretty significant year for severe weather” Read full article
Global Perspectives Summary:
Global media portray this story through varied cultural, economic, and political filters. While some focus on geopolitical ramifications, others highlight local impacts and human stories. Some nations frame the story around diplomatic tensions and international relations, while others examine domestic implications, public sentiment, or humanitarian concerns. This diversity of coverage reflects how national perspectives, media freedom, and journalistic priorities influence what the public learns about global events.
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Sources:
- Original Article
- Climate change made recent flooding in Midwest, South more intense, report finds
- RECAP: Severe Weather, Including Tornadoes, Tears Through Plains, Midwest, Southern U.S. Easter Weekend
- How 2024 became such an exceptional year for tornadoes
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/08/storms-mississippi-valley-climate-change-study