The warmer it gets, the more extreme the precipitation. Last year Hans ravaged and the destruction was enormous. It’s not as bad now, but enough that the mayor of Bø had to ask tourists to go home on Tuesday. For Tor Henning Forberg, it rained so heavily that the road was closed and he couldn’t get home. – It was absolutely extreme. There were rivers where there are small streams, and streams where I have not seen water before. The rain prevented Tor Henning Forberg from going home to his partner and children Photo: Tor Henning Forberg He was surprised at how Bø was suddenly turned upside down, but hopes people don’t panic. – I have my family in Horten, two children and a partner, so I have to go home to them eventually. I’m luckier than quite a few others here. There is probably someone who will make a trip south. Opening for a new part of the country – Something is changing. We see that clearly. The development is clear that we will have more such incidents as we have seen in Telemark in the future. That’s what climate researcher Reidun Gangstø says to news. In Oslo, heavy rainfall has increased by almost 60 per cent in 30 years, figures from the Meteorological Institute show. Since extreme precipitation occurs with warm air, southern Norway has been most exposed. The heavy rain had consequences for this house in Bø. Photo: Pär Ingvar Haukeland That can change. According to the Meteorological Institute, such events as in Telemark will also affect northern Norway in the years to come. The big picture: Climate change brings more torrential rain Have you thought that summer days are more often interrupted by a sudden, intense downpour? Then you are right. Climate change has already led to an increase in extreme precipitation in Europe and Norway, according to the UN Climate Panel and the Norwegian Climate Service Center. Why is it raining more as the world warms? Swipe to read more. Javier Ernesto Auris Chavez / news The rain is gathering Man-made emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases have already made the world warmer. When it is warm, water evaporates into the atmosphere. A warmer climate also means that the atmosphere can hold more water, according to the climate panel. Therefore, a warmer world leads to more intense precipitation, especially in the summer. How much more torrential rain have we received? There has been both more rain and more torrential rain in Europe in recent years years, and it is linked to climate change, according to the UN climate panel. In Norway, too, the number of torrential rains, and the amount of rain that comes, has increased in recent decades. At Blindern, twice as many torrential rains have been measured as before, but the measurements are uncertain. How much worse will it get? So far, the world has become around 1.1 degrees warmer since pre-industrial times. For every degree the world gets warmer, the researchers expect almost a doubling of the number of extreme precipitation events. With today’s climate policy, the world is headed for 2.8 degrees of warming, according to UNEP. – There is a higher probability in the future that such weather will occur further north with the development we are seeing, says the climate scientist. New months Gangstø believes the season for heavy rainfall will be extended in Eastern Norway. In the past, it was most normal for such downpours to occur in the warmest months. But that has changed, because in Oslo there has been an extra day of heavy downpour in the months of May to August. Climate researcher Reidun Gangstø at the Meteorological Institute expects more heavy rainfall in the future. Photo: Helge Tvedten / news The figures for the rest of the country are somewhat uncertain, but the same development is also seen in Bergen and Tromsø. Precipitation in Norway has generally increased by 20 per cent since 1900. But the same development does not apply in summer. This means that when the rain first comes, it comes intensely. – More heavy rain will lead to increased challenges with stormwater, floods, floods and landslides. We need both to adapt and to do what we can to cut emissions, says the climate scientist. After a few intense hours of downpour, some of Eikavegen in Bø had disappeared. Photo: Theodor Aasland Valen / news How to prepare The danger warning for intense rainfall continues through Tuesday evening. The insurance company asks people to prepare. Director of Communications at Gjensidige Forsikring Øystein Thoresen says this type of extreme rainfall is occurring more and more frequently. – If you have a basement, it’s a good idea to get valuables out. Or get it off the floor. It turns out that basements often fill up with water, he says. He has a clear call for homeowners. For those who have the opportunity to direct the water away from the house, this is the best. Published 23/07/2024, at 22.53
ttn-69
Oslo has had one extra day a month with torrential rain – news – Klima
