In April 2023, a severe storm in the central Mississippi valley resulted in record rainfall, causing extensive flooding which led to at least 15 deaths and significant economic damages estimated between $80bn and $90bn. According to a study by World Weather Attribution (WWA), climate change intensified rainfall by 9% and increased its likelihood by 40%. Warm ocean temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico have compounded the effects, making such conditions much more frequent than in the past. The National Weather Service's early warnings played a crucial role in preventing a higher death toll.
Overall, the human-caused climate crisis made surface sea temperatures 2.2F (1.2C) hotter, and such ocean conditions are now 14 times more likely compared with in a cooler, pre-industrial world.
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.
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