Climate threatGlobal challenges

UN: The Earth's water flows are becoming more and more unbalanced

The Earth's water cycle is becoming increasingly unstable, warns the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) according to AFP.

Last year, the planet's rivers were drier than in 30 years, glaciers lost more ice mass than in half a century and the number of floods was "significant".

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo describes the water cycle as an early indicator of climate change, and that global warming has made it increasingly unpredictable.

- We receive emergency signals in the form of increasingly extreme rain, floods and droughts, which have a strong impact on life, ecosystems and economies.

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Hurricane season
Category five hurricane headed for Florida after Helene

Hurricane Milton, which is moving east through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida, has rapidly grown to maximum strength on the five-degree scale. Wind gusts of 70 meters per second have been measured, according to the US hurricane authority, according to US media.

It is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, two weeks after the devastating Category Four Hurricane Helene. As it moved through the southeastern United States, Helene caused over 230 deaths, making it the deadliest hurricane in the United States since Katrina in 2005.

In Florida, where the damage from Helene is still contained, the emergency management is planning the largest evacuations since 2017. Residents in the Tampa area will begin to evacuate on Monday, according to the sheriff.

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Hurricane season
New hurricane headed for the US as strong as Helene

Hurricane Milton, which is moving east through the Gulf of Mexico towards Florida, has now grown to a Category 4 on a five-point scale. This is stated by the US hurricane authority according to CNN.

Thus, it is as strong as the devastating hurricane Helene was when it made landfall two weeks ago. Helene caused more than 230 deaths during its path through the southeastern United States – the highest death toll since Katrina in 2005.

Florida emergency management is planning for the largest evacuations since 2017. Residents in the Tampa area will begin evacuating on Monday, according to the sheriff. Milton is expected to make landfall in the middle of the week.