Climate change majorly disrupted global water cycle in 2024, led to Wayanad landslides: Report

Climate change significantly disrupted the global water cycle in 2024, resulting in devastating water-related disasters that caused over 8,700 deaths, displaced 40 million people and led to economic losses exceeding $550 billion, according to the 2024 Global Water Monitor Report.

Among the most notable events were the Wayanad landslides in India, triggered by relentless rainfall of 409 millimetres within 24 hours in July 2024. The disaster claimed 375 lives, displaced 10,000 people and caused economic losses amounting to $140 million, the report by the Australian National University revealed. It summarised the state of the global water cycle in 2024, identifies key trends and analyses major hydrological events.

“From historic droughts to catastrophic floods, these extreme events impact lives, livelihoods, and entire ecosystems. Separate, heavy rainfall events caused widespread flash flooding in Afghanistan and Pakistan, killing more than 1,000 people,” Albert van Dijk, professor of water science and management, Australian National University and chair, Global Water Monitor Consortium, said in a statement.

The report highlighted the most damaging water-related disasters of 2024, which included flash floods, river floods, droughts, tropical cyclones and landslides. Some of the other events that made it to the list were flooding in Afghanistan-Pakistan, heavy flooding in East Africa, Rio Grande do Sul floods in Brazil and the severe drought and bushfires in the Amazon basin. The report attributed all these events to climate impact. 

Rising sea surface temperatures, linked to climate change, were a key factor behind prolonged droughts in the Amazon Basin and Southern Africa as well. Global warming also intensified heavy rainfall events.

2024 saw the highest average land temperatures ever recorded globally. The frequency of record-warm months was the highest since 1979, the report highlighted.

As many as 34 countries experienced record-high annual maximum temperatures and annual minimum temperatures also increased, particularly in tropical regions.

There are also fewer frost days. Thirteen countries experienced an unusual but not record low number of frost days, including ten in Europe and India, showed the report.

In terms of precipitation, the record-breaking monthly rainfall total was 27 per cent higher in 2024 than at the beginning of the century. New records were set in West Africa, Europe and Asia. 

Extreme rainfall events occurred 52 percent more frequently. The number of record maximum rainfall events worldwide has increased by 4 per cent per decade.

Extremely dry months are also becoming common, with 38 per cent more record-dry months in 2024. Additionally, this year saw the highest relative air humidity over land since 2018. In Asia, records were set along the Indian Arabian Sea Coast. However, humidity levels were extremely low in South America and Central Africa.

The report also underscored the continuing trend of declining lake and reservoir water storage worldwide, marking the fifth consecutive year of reductions. South America recorded unprecedented lows, while Africa experienced record-high levels.

Terrestrial water storage, encompassing ground and surface water along with ice and snow, declined in most of the world’s arid regions. However, significant increases were observed in western, central and eastern Africa.

The report warns that 2025 could bring further extreme weather events. Northern South America, southern Africa, northern Africa, Central Asia, parts of North America and Western Australia are likely to experience intense droughts. In contrast, regions such as the Sahel, Horn of Africa, Europe and most of Asia face heightened risks of flooding.

“Ongoing climate change increases the potential for extreme weather events, including flash floods, flash droughts, intense storms, and heatwaves across many regions in 2025,” read the report.