Alps Face Doubling Summer Downpours as Temperatures Rise 2°C

A comprehensive study by researchers from the University of Lausanne and the University of Padova has found that extreme, short-lived summer rainfall events in the Alps are expected to become both more frequent and intense as the climate warms. Specifically, a 2°C increase in regional temperature could double the frequency of these heavy downpours, which currently occur approximately once every 50 years but may occur every 25 years in the future. The study analyzed data from nearly 300 mountain weather stations across the Alpine region, including Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, and France. This increase is driven by warmer air holding about 7% more moisture per degree Celsius, intensifying thunderstorm activity especially since the Alpine region is warming faster than the global average. Events like the June 2018 severe rainfall in Lausanne, which caused significant flooding and damage, exemplify the kind of hazards that could become more common. The findings underscore the urgent need for climate adaptation strategies to protect infrastructure, ecosystems, and communities in the Alps from escalating hydrological risks.