Press Release – Science Media Centre The Canterbury region is being hit hard by heavy rain and rising floodwaters. Canterbury Civil Defence has warned of further flooding, dangerous river conditions and disruptions to travel. Hundreds of residents have been evacuated and MetService …
The Canterbury region is being hit hard by heavy rain and rising floodwaters.
Canterbury Civil Defence has warned of further flooding, dangerous river conditions and disruptions to travel. Hundreds of residents have been evacuated and MetService has extended its code red heavy rain warning.
The SMC asked experts to comment on this situation.
Professor James Renwick, climate scientist, Victoria University of Wellington, comments:
The Canterbury region is being hit hard by heavy rain and rising floodwaters. Canterbury Civil Defence has warned of further flooding, dangerous river conditions and disruptions to travel. Hundreds of residents have been evacuated and MetService .
Study: Warmer weather will increase flooding in the Columbia River Basin this century
Monica Samayoa
Warmer winter weather, more rainfall and less snow will contribute to significantly increased flooding in the Columbia River Basin this century due to climate change, new research says.
New modeling shows an increase of flooding by up to 60% in the next 50 to 100 years, according to a study by Oregon State University’s Oregon Climate Change Research Institute. Less precipitation falling as snow during the winter will lead to earlier spring streamflows for many rivers in the basin, including the Columbia, Willamette and Snake rivers and hundreds of tributaries.