At Least 19 Dead as Storm Boris Impacts Central Europe

Above: A submerged foot bridge during high water levels in the Danube Island area of Vienna, Austria, on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. Image copyright: Michaela Nagyidaiova/Contributor/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

A rare coming together of extreme weather systems — Arctic air colliding with warm, moist air from the east — catalyzed deadly Storm Boris. This was intensified by record humidity and a historically warm Mediterranean Sea. The deluge has caused tragic losses and is a stark reminder of the intensifying effects of climate change.

Narrative B

It's easy to dismiss any extreme weather event as a consequence of climate change, but in reality, they're usually influenced by a myriad of factors that have nothing to do with it. More research is needed before we can establish any direct causal link between the two.

Metaculus Prediction

There is a 50% chance that there will be at least 2.8 °C of global warming by 2100, according to the Metaculus prediction community.


Articles on this story