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Less rain, more intense storms: Climate change strengthens extreme urban floods

Researchers found that 26% of the world's urban areas, home to 1.5 billion people, will experience declining precipitation and intensifying extreme rainfall by the end of the century. Urbanization amplifies this effect, highlighting the need for climate-resilient urban planning and drainage infrastructure.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalJournal of Hydrology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 9, 2026

Snowfall and clouds may slow East Antarctic ice loss in a warmer world

A new study suggests that East Antarctic ice sheet may be more resilient to extreme long-term warming due to increased snowfall and cloud cover. This effect partially offsets ice loss even under high carbon dioxide concentrations, leading to a different overall response compared to West Antarctic Ice Sheet.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Climate Change·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 30, 2026

Rainfall can travel from mountain slopes to rivers far faster than expected in mountain catchments

Researchers found that rainfall-related effects can propagate across mountain slopes to rivers in as little as 160 min, even across slopes exceeding 500 m in length. This indicates rapid hydrological responses can occur in high-relief mountain catchments, improving understanding and prediction of floods and sediment-related hazards.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalJournal of Hydrology·DateOct 28, 2026

KAIST: Late-summer rain belt has moved about 200 km north, raising the risk of concurrent heavy rain and heat in Korea

A joint research team from KAIST and the APEC Climate Center found that the East Asian summer front has migrated north over the past half century, increasing the risk of heavy rain and heat stress in Korea. The study suggests that summer disaster planning should address flood prevention and heat-illness management together.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·Journalnpj Climate and Atmospheric Science·DateOct 22, 2026

Filling the gaps in global rainfall maps

Researchers developed a machine learning approach to reconstruct missing precipitation patterns in global rainfall maps, using a 3D U-Net and 3D condition encoder to capture space and time variations. The model achieved high prediction accuracy and produced consistent rainfall patterns across locations and time.

SourceChiba University·JournalEarth and Space Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 20, 2026

New 220-meter global atmospheric model erases “popcornlike” rain

A new global atmospheric model has achieved unprecedented high resolution, narrowing grid spacing to 220 meters, and eliminating instances of popcornlike rain. This allows for more accurate predictions of extreme local weather from a global model, advancing next-generation climate prediction and weather forecasting.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 8, 2026

Drought in the Northeastern United States has decreased

A new study from Dartmouth College found that droughts in the Northeastern US have decreased due to increased precipitation, outpacing water loss from the surface. The research team analyzed changes in drought frequency, intensity, and duration from 1901 to 2022, comparing their results to the US Drought Monitor.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalJournal of Hydrometeorology·DateSep 21, 2026

Extracting predictable signals from observational precipitation data: A new approach to seasonal precipitation prediction

The study develops a new climate prediction method called SFA-based Climate Prediction (SCP) that extracts predictable signals from precipitation data. It demonstrates higher prediction skill than two dynamical models and a hybrid dynamical–statistical system, providing a new approach for regional seasonal precipitation prediction.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Earth Sciences·DateSep 1, 2026

​​​​​​​New England-wide team awarded $5.9 million to advance research on snow and outdoor economy

A team of northern New England universities has been awarded $5.9 million to advance snow research and explore connections between winter weather and the outdoor recreation economy in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The project will unify snow monitoring equipment and weather station networks to improve computer model simulations an...

Leaf traits drive herbivory across forests: Silicon and heat tolerance matter

Researchers found that plant species with tougher leaves actually suffered more from insect damage, while those with higher silicon concentrations sustained less. In contrast, plants with higher heat tolerance experienced greater herbivory. Understanding these drivers is crucial for predicting forest health under future climate scenarios.

SourceSouth China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalPlant Diversity·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 11, 2026

When the land "speaks": How surface conditions shape precipitation in humid Asian monsoon regions

A new review paper reveals that land surfaces in humid monsoon regions shape precipitation characteristics through complex interactions. High-resolution satellite observations and convection-permitting climate models reveal a nuanced understanding of surface moisture, energy balance, and atmospheric dynamics. This challenges the tradit...

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateApr 13, 2026

Fantastic fungi found with ability to freeze water

Researchers have identified fungal proteins that can catalyze ice formation at high subzero temperatures, making them a potential alternative to toxic silver iodide in cloud seeding. The discovery could lead to safer weather modification and improved food preservation techniques.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 17, 2026

Where does northwest China's increasing moisture come from? New study points to local sources

A new study found that Northwest China's precipitation increase since the late 1990s is largely driven by local sources, including enhanced evapotranspiration. The region's humidification trend is fueled by warming temperatures, vegetation recovery, and increased meltwater from glaciers and snowpack.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateMar 9, 2026

Forest soils increasingly extract methane from atmosphere

Researchers at the University of Göttingen found that forest soils in south-western Germany absorb more methane as climate conditions become drier and warmer. This contradicts current international meta-analyses, highlighting the importance of long-term monitoring for assessing the effects of climate change.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalAgricultural and Forest Meteorology·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 4, 2026

Application of orthogonal CNOP-I in a convection-allowing ensemble prediction system based on CMA-MESO for improving extreme precipitation skill

Researchers improve extreme precipitation forecast accuracy using a novel CNOP-I scheme in a convection-allowing ensemble prediction system. The new method captures nonlinear evolution characteristics of weather systems, leading to more accurate predictions and reduced uncertainty.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateJan 14, 2026

New study reveals precursors for forecasting summer clustered extreme precipitation events in Northeast China

Researchers have identified four synoptic patterns contributing to summer clustered extreme precipitation events in Northeast China, including eastward-moving low-altitude vortex and southwesterlies. The study provides a robust assessment of prerequisite conditions for these events and offers insights into short-term forecasting.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateJan 14, 2026

Climate change and rising sea levels to worsen urban health risks in Mumbai, study co-led by Princeton and University of Chicago reveals

A recent study co-led by Princeton and University of Chicago found that deaths caused by rainfall and rising sea levels are almost ten times higher than official statistics suggest in Mumbai. The research highlights the human toll of extreme urban flooding, with slum residents facing disproportionate risks, particularly children under ...

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 12, 2025

Hotter does mean wetter

A Kyoto University study found that a 4 degree global temperature increase will intensify extreme precipitation and make it stronger by 7% per degree of warming. However, favorable conditions for extreme precipitation occur when atmospheric moisture is sufficient, not on the hottest days.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 15, 2025

AMS science preview: global heat record false? Rainier storms

Recent research from the American Meteorological Society reveals a false global heat record, suggests that severe weather events are increasing in frequency, and predicts an expansion of fire-prone areas. The study also examines the impact of cold wakes on tropical cyclone rainfall and finds that they intensify with global warming.

SourceAmerican Meteorological Society·JournalBulletin of the American Meteorological Society·DateOct 9, 2025