In July 2025, unprecedented extreme weather events have struck multiple regions globally, from Asia and North America to Europe and the Mediterranean area. Disasters such as heavy rain, floods, heatwaves, and wildfires have successively hit, resulting in hundreds of deaths and over a hundred million people being affected in their daily lives.
This week, the southeastern United States is facing a severe heatwave, breaking multiple observation records. The meteorological agencies are urging people to minimize outdoor activities and stay hydrated.
According to reports from the Associated Press, on July 27, Tampa International Airport in Florida recorded a temperature exceeding 100°F (37.8°C) for the first time, setting a new historical record since observations began in 1890. The previous record was 99°F (37.2°C) in June 2020.
The heatwave is expected to peak in the middle of the week (around July 28–30), influenced by a strong heat dome, causing a “dangerous and prolonged” heatwave in the central and eastern regions of the United States. Several counties in New Jersey and the suburbs of New York City have issued extreme heat warnings, with Manhattan’s temperature soaring to 97°F (36°C) at one point.
The heat index has also surged, with Tampa Bay and Orlando estimated to have a heat index between 113°F and 118°F (about 45°C–47.7°C), making outdoor workers feel a heavier burden.
Several states have entered heat alert status, including Georgia, northern Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, and the Carolinas, affecting a population of over 185 million. Multiple cities have issued warnings, reminding the elderly, children, patients with chronic illnesses, and outdoor workers to take measures to prevent heatstroke.
Canada is experiencing the second most severe wildfire season in over a decade, starting earlier this year and has already burned over 20,000 square kilometers, leading to the evacuation of over 25,000 people. The “Zombie fires” from 2023 continue to burn, significantly impacting Canada’s air quality.
Meanwhile, many areas continue to experience high temperatures, with the heat index reaching over 40 degrees Celsius. The Global News reported that Toronto has issued its fifth heat warning, with a continuous streak of 21 days under heat alerts. Heat warnings also cover most parts of British Columbia in the west, with temperatures reaching up to 37 degrees Celsius. High temperatures have prompted public health warnings, leading local governments to activate emergency plans as hospital emergency room visits increase.
At the end of June, South America experienced a cold wave, with Chile recording temperatures as low as -7.9°C and Buenos Aires, Argentina hitting -1.9°C, the lowest temperatures for decades, resulting in over 15 deaths.
Beijing, the capital of China, experienced rare heavy rain from July 27 to 29, leading to severe urban flooding. The continuous heavy rains in the northern region accumulated rainfall of up to 543 millimeters (21.3 inches) within just two to three days, equivalent to the total annual rainfall in the area (about 23 inches).
As of noon on the 31st, official reports indicate that at least 44 people have died, including 31 at a nursing home in Miyun District, with 9 others still missing. The floods have affected over 300,000 people, damaged more than 24,000 houses, and caused damage to 242 bridges and 756 kilometers of roads.
More than 80,000 people in the vicinity of Beijing have been evacuated, with 136 villages experiencing power outages, and over 30 roads severely damaged and communication lines disrupted. The water level of the Miyun Reservoir reached its highest level since its construction in 1959, forcing emergency flood discharge. Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that the floods have resulted in “significant casualties and property losses.”
Hebei Province also suffered significant damage, with extreme heavy rainfall in many areas. Over 80 stations in Chengde, Tangshan, Qinhuangdao, and Baoding recorded rainfall levels reaching the classification of torrential rain. Inner Mongolia and Shanxi were also hit by heavy rains, leading to local flooding. Meteorologists claim that this year’s northern rainfall season has seen precipitation levels 30% higher than previous years at the same time.
Additionally, Shanghai was hit by severe rainfall and strong winds on Wednesday, July 30th, due to the influence of the strong tropical storm named “Bamboo Joint Grass.” This resulted in severe disasters, with approximately 283,000 residents being emergency evacuated to safe areas. On that day, the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau issued an orange rainstorm warning, the second-highest level of weather warning in China. Continuous heavy rainfall led to flooding on many streets in the city, causing disruptions in traffic.
According to official reports, both Pudong and Hongqiao international airports were affected by the weather, with about a third of flights being forced to be canceled, involving over 640 flights. The city government opened more than 1,900 temporary shelters to provide emergency shelter to affected residents.
The meteorological department pointed out that the “Bamboo Joint Grass” made its first landfall along the coast of Zhejiang at 4:30 am on the 30th, then moved northward and made a second landfall in Shanghai, with maximum wind speeds of 83 kilometers per hour. As a result, rainfall in multiple areas of Shanghai sharply increased, adding pressure to disaster prevention efforts.
On July 14th and 15th, New York City and northern New Jersey experienced sudden heavy rainfall, setting the second-highest rainfall record since 1943. Central Park received 2.64 inches of rain within a short period, breaking the 1908 record of 1.47 inches. In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, rainfall exceeded 7 inches within five hours.
In Plainfield, New Jersey, two people were swept away and drowned by the creek, with 21 water rescues initiated in Union County, and 16 rescues in Pennsylvania.
Multiple subway lines in Manhattan were disrupted, with the 28th Street station completely flooded, and LaGuardia and Newark airports temporarily suspending flights. The governor of New Jersey declared a state of emergency, and the New York City Emergency Management Department issued a flash flood warning throughout the city. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) pumped out 16 million gallons of water from the subway system.
According to a recent study by Imperial College London, in late June to early July this year, Europe faced a severe heatwave with about 2,300 people potentially dying due to the high temperatures, with 65% (around 1,500 people) directly affected by the weather. The study covered 12 major cities with a combined population of over 30 million, including Barcelona, Madrid, London, and Milan.
The study indicated that in these cities, temperatures rose by as much as 4°C during the heatwave.
In other reports, Granada, Spain recorded a temperature of 46°C, while Moura, Portugal reached 46.6°C. Researchers believe that climate change has raised heatwave temperatures by 2 to 4°C, significantly increasing their severity. Forest fires have broken out in some areas of France, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate.
The Mediterranean region saw sea surface temperatures rise to 30°C this summer, up to 5-6°C above average, affecting 62% of the sea areas. Over 50,000 people were evacuated in Turkey, with more than 17 fatalities. Greece had to evacuate over 5,000 tourists and residents while Sicily’s agricultural losses amounted to 2.7 billion euros.
Experts warn that marine heatwaves are likely to continue into the fall, causing severe impacts on fisheries and tourism. CBS News reported that the insurance industry in the region has had seven out of the past eight years with payouts exceeding $100 billion, and this year may set a new record.
Taiwan was hit by the severe tropical storm “Danas” in early July, with record-breaking strong winds making landfall in densely populated western areas. The storm led to 2 to 4 fatalities, over 700 injuries, 880,000 households without power, and local governments receiving a total of 9,391 disaster reports.
Just three weeks later, from July 28th to 29th, a low-pressure system brought heavy rain to the southern region, forcing around 3,000 people to evacuate. Several towns and villages were submerged by flooding, with the Central Weather Bureau warning of possible rainfall as high as 900 millimeters (35.4 inches) or even greater in the southern mountainous areas over the next few days, potentially leading to further floods and landslides. Officials have noted that some disaster victims were still in the process of rebuilding after tropical storm Danas, making recovery efforts even more challenging.
In early July, the Texas Hill Country experienced a catastrophic flood due to heavy rainfall from July 4th to 7th, with the Guadalupe River rising by 26 feet (almost 8 meters) within 45 minutes. The region received an unprecedented amount of rainfall, totaling 20.33 inches in a short time span, equivalent to four months of rainfall. According to The Texas Tribune, the flood claimed at least 138 lives, with over 80,000 people evacuated urgently, and some summer camps and residential areas nearly destroyed by the floods.
Experts attribute this disaster to the combination of high-temperature Gulf of Mexico waters and a significant amount of water vapor carried by the residual tropical system. Previous drought conditions had hardened the soil, making it difficult for the heavy rain to percolate through, exacerbating the destructive force of the flood. President Trump signed a major disaster declaration, activating federal rescue operations.
Based on data from the European Copernicus Climate Change Service and Yale Climate Connections, June 2025 was the third hottest recorded June, with frequent extreme weather events throughout July, showcasing a significant rise in the variability of the earth’s climate system.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has indicated that a 1.5°C increase in temperature would lead to shorter, more intense rainfall, as well as more frequent occurrences of floods, droughts, and heatwaves.