Flooding and drought in equal measure by John Hammond
Rain is causing trouble across the globe – either too much or too little.
Southern California is normally soaked by sunshine, but it’s been raining incessantly in LA recently. Wednesday’s storm added another inch to the tally of 3 feet of rain so far this spring. Another inch of the wet stuff, and the 120-year rainfall record will be smashed. Watch this space.
Far more seriously, south-eastern parts of Ethiopia have been hit by deadly floods this week. After months of drought, a sudden deluge over the hills has sent a torrent through the lowland valleys, sweeping all in its path. Thousands have been displaced, hundreds have drowned, and as a result of the flooded rivers, at least eight people have been killed by crocodiles.
Weather tends to even itself out across the globe. So if it’s flooding in one place, there’s bound to be a drought somewhere else.
Recently the rain in Spain hasn’t even been falling on the plain. This country has been suffering its driest winter and spring since records began almost 60 years ago, with rainfall this year 37% below the average. Neighbouring country Portugal is suffering its worst drought for 25 years, and authorities there have imposed irrigation restrictions in the popular tourist destinations of the south.
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