Northeast Flash Floods

Heavy rainfall in New England has generated widespread flooding across the northeastern US, including in southwestern New Hampshire and southern Vermont, drawing comparisons to flooding from Hurricane Irene in 2011. At least one person has died in New York state, while the National Weather Service warned of life-threatening flooding in Vermont through today.

The severe weather has led to road closures, transit disruptions, and power outages across the region. Some areas of New York saw as much as 8 inches of rain, while Vermont has seen up to 6 inches of rain; Vermont is expected to see an additional 6 inches by today. See photos of the damage here.

Separately, at least 22 people are dead in India's northern Himalayan region following flash floods and landslides triggered by monsoon rains. Additionally, at least two are dead and six are missing in southwest Japan following floods and mudslides.

The floods come as extreme rainfall events are becoming more common worldwide. Experts say for every 1.8-degree Fahrenheit increase in global temperature, the amount of moisture in the atmosphere increases by 6%-7%, resulting in more intense and frequent precipitation. See more on the Clausius-Clapeyron equation here.