#1 Victorian uni for graduate employment1
#1 in the world for sport science2
#1 Victorian uni for course satisfaction3
#1 Victorian uni for graduate employment1
#1 in the world for sport science2
#1 Victorian uni for course satisfaction3
NEXT UP ON this.
Climate change is no longer a distant threat – it’s here, and it’s reshaping our world in real time.
From deadly hurricanes to relentless heatwaves, extreme weather events have become the norm in 2024, marking a turning point in how we understand and face climate change. But what do these escalating events really tell us about the bigger picture?
We spoke with Dr Sanja van Huet, a leading climate scientist from Deakin University, to unpack the causes, impacts and what it all means for our future. Alongside her insights, Deakin biologist and ecologist Dr Adam Cardilini shares his concerns about the pivotal moment we’re at and highlights the actions needed to prevent further escalation of extreme weather events, food insecurity and environmental collapse.
Extreme weather events are more than just storms or floods – they’re events that go beyond the ordinary, exhibiting unusual magnitude, intensity or frequency for their time and location.
These include heatwaves, wildfires, cold snaps, massive storms and cyclones that cause widespread destruction and loss of life.
As Dr van Huet explains, ‘While there is no such thing as an ordinary weather event (because the occasional extreme event has been occurring throughout history), recent weather events influenced by climate change are usually much more impactful in terms of force, frequency, intensity and effect.’
These amplified occurrences, such as wildfires and flooding, often occur in sequence, compounding their devastation and making recovery even harder for communities and ecosystems alike.
‘The increased intensity of these events is the clear result of a rapidly changing climate,’ says Dr Cardilini. ‘We’re seeing a frequency and scale of disruption that is beyond what we’ve experienced in the past, and we’re at a critical point where we have to act.’
Extreme weather events have been a part of human history for millennia, from ancient floods to modern megastorms.
Take the Great Famine of Europe in the 14th century – attributed to extreme weather that caused crop failures – or the 1930s Dust Bowl, which forced millions to migrate due to severe droughts and deadly heatwaves.
As we move into more recent history, the frequency and intensity of these events have only grown. The rise of meteorology and media coverage has allowed for more precise tracking of extreme weather events, but it’s also highlighted just how catastrophic they can be.
In 1988, a summer drought and heatwave in North America led to wildfires and thousands of deaths. The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, which claimed over 230,000 lives across 15 countries, remains one of the most devastating natural disasters on record.
Then there’s Hurricane Katrina, which in 2005 destroyed much of New Orleans, becoming one of the deadliest hurricanes to hit the United States.
'We’re seeing a frequency and scale of disruption that is beyond what we’ve experienced in the past, and we’re at a critical point where we have to act.'Dr Sanja van Huet,
School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University
The short answer: yes. The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events have surged in recent years.
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), heatwaves, severe flooding, droughts and wildfires are occurring more frequently and with greater force due to climate change.
The World Meteorological Organization reports that the number of global weather disasters has increased fivefold over the past 50 years.
For instance, in 2024 alone, the U.S. experienced 27 major weather events, causing billions of dollars in damages and hundreds of deaths across the country. This is the second-highest number on record, with 28 major disasters in 2023. In 2018 there were 16, in 2014, there were 10, and in the year 2000, there were only five.
Hurricanes in the Atlantic have become stronger, with the 2020 season having the highest number of named storms ever recorded, while in Australia, there has been a massive increase in extreme fire weather, and in the length of the fire season, since the 1950s.
Dr van Huet highlights the frequency of events like La Niña rainfall, which, while cyclical in Australia, has also become more destructive in recent years due to climate change.
Extreme weather events don’t just happen out of nowhere – they are the result of a complex mix of natural forces and human activities, particularly climate change.
On the natural side, things like volcanic eruptions and climate systems like El Niño and La Niña can disrupt weather patterns. For example, La Niña triggers heavy rainfall in Australia, while El Niño often leads to droughts and warmer conditions in other parts of the world.
However, it’s climate change that is driving many of the extreme weather events we’re experiencing today.
As NASA explains, ‘Human actions since the Industrial Revolution, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, have caused greenhouse gases to rapidly rise in the atmosphere. As carbon dioxide, methane and other gases increase, they act as a blanket, trapping heat and warming the planet.’
This warming affects the water cycle, shifts weather patterns and melts land ice – all of which can make extreme weather events worse, leading to a world that is increasingly vulnerable to climate change.
Not all extreme weather events are directly caused by climate change. Some weather patterns, like volcanic eruptions or natural cycles such as solar variability, are part of Earth’s natural variability.
However, there’s no denying that climate change is amplifying the severity and frequency of many extreme weather events.
The IPCC’s 2023 Sixth Assessment Report states that human-driven climate change is already influencing global weather extremes, with significant impacts on both nature and communities.
Even small increases in global temperatures can drastically affect extreme weather patterns. For instance, hurricanes, which draw energy from warm ocean waters, are becoming more powerful as ocean temperatures rise. Similarly, warmer conditions create the perfect setting for larger, longer wildfires and more frequent, intense heatwaves.
Rising temperatures also lead to longer-lasting droughts, as moisture evaporates more quickly from soil and water bodies. At the same time, more moisture in the atmosphere leads to heavier rainfall, worsening flooding in vulnerable areas.
Melting ice and warming oceans are causing sea levels to rise, increasing coastal flooding risks. Even winter storms are becoming more severe, as warmer air holds more moisture, leading to heavier snowfall.
Dr Cardilini adds: ‘We’re no longer at the point where these events are isolated anomalies. The rapid increase in frequency is a signal we can’t ignore. The worst part? We’re still not doing enough to stop it.’
2024 was a year marked by extreme weather, with record-breaking heatwaves, devastating floods, and deadly storms across the globe, all symptoms of climate change.
It was confirmed as the warmest year on record, with global temperatures breaching the critical 1.5C threshold for a full year for the first time.
While human-induced climate change and El Niño contributed to rising temperatures, the effects were felt far and wide.
North America saw unprecedented storms, with Hurricane Beryl becoming the earliest Category 5 hurricane in history, while in South America, Brazil experienced intense flooding and mudslides in the south, as well as its worst recorded drought, affecting almost 60% of the country.
Europe faced extreme heatwaves, with Italy facing its worst drought in almost 20 years, while Portugal experienced a series of more than 1,000 wildfires, burning more than 350 square miles in a matter of days.
Catastrophic flooding took to the mountains near Valencia, where a year’s worth of rain fell in just eight hours, killing over 200 people and marking Europe’s worst flood-related disaster since 1967.
In Africa and the Middle East, Dubai saw almost a year’s worth of rainfall in a single day, while West Africa suffered a heatwave linked to climate change. Meanwhile, Namibia was declared a state of emergency as it endured its worst drought in a century.
In Asia, extreme heatwaves in India reached temperatures of 47°C, and Typhoon Yagi caused deadly floods across Southeast Asia, causing over 500 deaths, while the Philippines faced multiple deadly typhoons.
Finally, Australasia saw its warmest August on record in Australia, and severe storms and bushfires struck Victoria, leaving half a million homes without power.
View this post on Instagram
Australia has always been vulnerable to extreme weather. From intense bushfires to powerful cyclones, Australia’s weather has tested the resilience of its communities time and time again.
In 2020, the country witnessed its most devastating bushfire season on record, with the 2019-2020 bushfires ravaging over 5.5 million hectares of land and leaving lasting scars on the environment. The heatwaves that fuelled these fires were extreme, with temperatures soaring to record highs, particularly in Victoria, where Hopetoun hit a blistering 48.8°C.
But long before that, in 2009, Victoria faced the Black Saturday bushfires. These fires were the deadliest bushfire event in Australian history, claiming 173 lives and destroying over 2,000 homes. The fires were fuelled by intense heat, dry conditions and gusty winds, making them virtually uncontrollable and devastating entire communities.
View this post on Instagram
Floods, too, have caused widespread devastation. Queensland’s 2010 floods saw unprecedented rainfall, leaving thousands displaced and damaging critical infrastructure. And in 1974, Brisbane was struck by a massive flood when the Brisbane River overflowed, displacing residents and causing major disruptions.
Cyclones are also a major concern in the northern regions. Cyclone Yasi in 2011 was a Category 5 storm that caused extensive damage to Queensland’s coast, while Cyclone Tracy in 1974 devastated Darwin, causing widespread destruction and loss of life.
Dust storms have left their mark on Australia as well, with some of the most memorable occurring in 2002 and 2005. These storms, which create hazardous conditions by reducing visibility and affecting air quality, are often linked to periods of drought, exacerbating their impact.
According to Cardilini, if action isn’t taken urgently, Australia will experience more frequent and severe extreme weather events such as fires, floods, droughts and storm surges. Food insecurity will be rampant, ecosystems will collapse and overall wellbeing will degrade.
These aren’t the results of further levels of warming; in fact, Cardilini says these impacts are all likely to occur within our current levels of climate action, which ‘are vastly inadequate and accept a dangerous level of warming.’
‘This will all be compounded by the social implications of such a future, where the norms of modern Australia – [such as] democracy, social welfare – may have eroded under such stresses,’ adds Cardilini.
On the other side of the world, Hurricane Helene made history in 2024 with its catastrophic winds, record-breaking rainfall and devastating impact across six states in the United States.
Making landfall in northwestern Florida with winds of 225km per hour, the storm ravaged communities as it tore through Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas, causing more than 230 deaths and an estimated $200 billion in damages.
What made Hurricane Helene particularly alarming was its rapid intensification – morphing from scattered thunderstorms into a Category 4 hurricane in just over two days. This phenomenon was fuelled by unusually warm waters in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, where temperatures were nearly 1°C warmer than historical averages.
Climate scientists have long warned that such oceanic warming, driven by global climate change, acts as a turbocharger for hurricanes, making them more frequent, intense and destructive.
As Dr van Huet explains, ‘Catastrophic hurricanes in the southern USA have increased from approximately one event every three years, to one to two events per year due to warming oceans. Record-breaking wind speeds are also being recorded because of changes in ocean and air temperatures.’
'We’re no longer at the point where these events are isolated anomalies. The rapid increase in frequency is a signal we can’t ignore. The worst part? We’re still not doing enough to stop it.'Dr Adam Cardilini ,
School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University
The consequences of extreme weather are far-reaching. While the immediate devastation often captures the most attention, these events leave a lasting impact on life, infrastructure, agriculture and ecosystems.
Heatwaves, which continue to break records in parts of Europe and the UK, have devastating impacts. As Dr van Huet explains, ‘Heatwaves overall result in more deaths than any other extreme weather event.’ These events not only result in fatalities and displacement but also disrupt local economies, food security and biodiversity.
Extreme rainfall events like the ones in Brazil, Spain and Thailand lead to flooding and soil erosion, wiping out agricultural land and pushing food production into jeopardy.
The devastating consequences aren’t just economic – they’re also biological, causing local extinctions and wiping out habitats.
Dr van Huet says, ‘The Australian bush mega fires of 2019-2020 have been estimated to have killed up to three billion animals,’ showing just how devastating extreme weather can be for local wildlife populations.
‘Combined with human-caused destruction of habitat through forestry, land clearing and mining, most of these species are on the brink of extinction.’
Fires take a heavy toll on human lives as well. Beyond the tragic loss of life, they destroy homes and infrastructure, displacing thousands of people. The 2025 bushfires in Los Angeles are a stark reminder of this reality, with the Santa Ana winds – intensified by climate change – pushing fires through drought-affected areas.
As Dr van Huet notes, these intense fires not only cause immediate loss and suffering but also cause an ‘increase in pests such as disease-bearing insects and changes in agricultural zones, which greatly impact food security and livelihood.’
Unfortunately, the short-term outlook looks bleak. As Dr van Huet explains, ‘Most climate scientists acknowledge that many of the earth’s climate tipping points have been reached.’
These include ice sheet and glacier melting, rising ocean temperatures and disrupted weather patterns. ‘These events are now in freefall and can’t be reversed,’ she says.
One of the most concerning factors is the warming of our oceans, which have an immense capacity for holding heat. ‘The difference between water melting and freezing is less than 0.1°C,’ Dr. van Huet points out, illustrating just how delicate the balance is.
‘Because our oceans are warming, they are increasing ice melt, changing the weather patterns and seasonal cycles and disrupting marine food chains, causing plankton death in polar regions,’ Dr van Huet explains. ‘Warming oceans are also the main contributors to extreme weather events.’
‘10 years ago, sea level rise was the main concern. What we are now experiencing with our extreme weather events is a precursor to this, and also the potential increase in severe and catastrophic weather events.’
While the future remains uncertain, the actions we take today can either slow the impacts of climate change or make them worse. ‘In the short term – over the next 50 years – there is little chance to reverse these effects,’ says Dr van Huet.
The good news is that there’s still time to act. As Dr Cardilini explains, these actions can be divided into immediate responses during crises and broader societal shifts toward climate resilience.
‘During and immediately after a climate-induced extreme weather event, it’s vital to ensure the safety of people, communities, non-human animals and ecosystems impacted,’ says Dr Cardilini.
Emergency response and recovery are essential, with support needed for affected communities as they adapt and rebuild. ‘There are plenty of good researchers and people in communities across Australia working on emergency responses to these extreme weather events, who could provide valuable insights,’ Dr Cardilini adds.
Beyond crisis response, Dr Cardilini urges us to think seriously about what these events signal for the future. ‘Current climate actions are inadequate,’ he warns. ‘If we settle for limiting global heating to 1.5°C or even 2.0°C, we’re effectively locking in more extreme weather events and accepting their devastating impacts.’
To break this cycle, society must work toward rapid and meaningful climate action. ‘This means reducing emissions, removing excess pollution from the atmosphere and investigating the potential of reflection technologies as a tool for safe passage while reversing heating,’ Dr Cardilini advises.
‘A future with no climate action scares me and is one I hate to think about,’ he says. ‘It will be a future with significant environmental and social uncertainty, not only in Australia but abroad.’
Extreme weather events are a stark reminder of the climate crisis. What we do now – as individuals, industries, and governments – will shape the world future generations inherit.
So, the question remains: are we ready to rise to the challenge?
