Summary of Key Points
In the summer of 2026, extreme weather events occurred across many parts of the world: a deadly heatwave in India that arrived earlier than expected, record-high temperatures in the UK, floods in Guangxi, China, severe convective storms in Hubei, and landslides in Gansu. These seemingly isolated disasters are actually part of a chain reaction driven by global warming. As the atmosphere warms, it can hold 10% more water vapor, leading to both longer-lasting heatwaves and more intense downpours. Neither poor nor rich countries, nor regions in the south or north, are immune to the effects of climate change—this is not a story from some distant place; it’s a “tightening net” that affects everyone.
The “Invisible Formula” Behind Extreme Weather: Why Are There So Many Disasters This Year?
You may have heard of global warming, but you might not know how it specifically leads to disasters. Here’s a simple scientific principle: for every 1°C increase in air temperature, the atmosphere can hold 7% more water vapor. In 2024, the global average temperature was 1.5°C higher than before the Industrial Revolution, meaning there is 10% more water vapor in the atmosphere. This excess water vapor does not disperse evenly; instead, it concentrates in certain areas, resulting in torrential downpours. At the same time, the increased temperature also makes heatwaves more frequent and prolonged.
For example, the heatwave in India occurred earlier than usual in May, with longer periods of exposure to 45°C temperatures. What does 45°C mean? The human skin temperature is around 35°C, and above this, the body can only cool down by sweating. Without water and electrolytes, dehydration and organ failure can occur within hours. Although 34.8°C may not seem high in Europe, British buildings are designed for warmth (with thick walls and small windows), and only 3%-5% of households have air conditioning, making indoor spaces like ovens. Hospitals and nursing homes lack cooling facilities, leading to serious consequences. These are all outcomes of the same principle: either die from heat or drown from water.
Even Rich Countries Are Affected: GDP Cannot Protect Against Climate Change
Many people think that money can protect them from disasters, but the UK’s experience proves otherwise. When London recorded a May temperature of 34.8°C, most households did not have air conditioning, and the architectural design became a liability—thick walls trapped heat, and small windows prevented ventilation, making indoor temperatures even higher than outside. This is not a matter of poverty but of lack of preparation. In the past, summers in the UK were not hot, so who would invest in air conditioning? However, climate change has broken these historical patterns.
Disasters in Multiple Chinese Regions: Three Nodes of the Same Problem
In early July, floods in Guangxi, severe convective storms in Hubei, and landslides in Gansu occurred thousands of kilometers apart, all caused by the same warm, humid atmosphere saturated with water vapor:
- Guangxi: When Typhoon Merak made landfall, the sea temperature in the Beibu Gulf was 1-2°C warmer than usual, providing additional fuel for the typhoon. Combined with the surrounding mountains, this led to extreme downpours, with 533 millimeters of rainfall in three days—equivalent to half a ton of water per square meter. In Jiangping Town, the rainfall reached 102 millimeters in an hour, twice the threshold for “short-term intense precipitation.”
- Hubei and Gansu: Under the same atmospheric system, severe convective storms killed 11 people, and landslides in Gansu buried 33 others. These are not isolated incidents; they represent different points on the global warming “net.” As long as there is excess water vapor in the atmosphere and the right conditions (such as terrain or monsoon patterns), disasters can occur anywhere.
The Next Target Could Be Your City
Typhoon Bayi has already become a super typhoon (category 17 or above), and the 2026 typhoon season is just beginning (peaking from July to October). Based on sea temperatures and historical data, the next typhoon is likely to move northward towards the East China coast:
- Beijing: The heavy rains in March 2023 were caused by remnants of a typhoon that brought moisture from the south. Beijing’s drainage system was not designed to handle such events.
- Shanghai: With an average elevation of only 4 meters, the Yangtze River estuary is at high risk of storm surges. Are Shanghai’s flood prevention measures sufficient?
- Guangzhou: Sharing the South China Sea and monsoons with Guangxi, if the typhoon moves just a few dozen kilometers north, similar disasters could occur in Guangzhou.
No matter where you live, the risk is increasing—this is not a prediction but a probability, as the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere continues to rise.
You Are Not an Outsider: Climate Change Is Around You
You may have ignored news about the floods in Guangxi, but it affects you:
- Your air conditioner uses more electricity this summer because it’s hotter.
- Delivery services are disrupted as riders avoid extreme weather.
- Power outages occur due to increased demand from everyone using air conditioning.
- Even the water you drink could be contaminated by floodwaters.
The saying “there is no place to stand by” means that climate change is not an abstract future disaster; it’s affecting every aspect of your daily life. When you think “Guangxi is far away,” you are already part of this tightening net—you just haven’t been directly affected yet.
Finally, meteorologists say that a single weather event cannot be attributed solely to climate change, but each extreme weather event has its unique characteristics. The patterns of the summer of 2026 are evident everywhere around the world, and the next one could happen right outside your window. Instead of ignoring the news, it’s better to pay more attention to the changes in our environment—after all, we are all connected within this global network.