Weather Watch 2025: Are Earthquakes, Flash Floods & Tsunamis the New Climate Extremes?

Weather Watch 2025: A Year of Extremes

This year has seen a dramatic surge in natural disasters—from powerful earthquakes to deadly flash floods and tsunamis—fuelled by climate change and unstable geophysical conditions.

This year has been a brutal reminder of the consequences of our actions. We’ve witnessed a surge in extreme weather events—most of them fueled by human interference. In our relentless pursuit of development, we have exploited nature, cut down forests, tampered with mountains, and ignored the delicate balance that sustains life. And now, nature is responding.

“When Nature Strikes Back: A Tragedy in Uttarakhand”

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

The disaster occurred at around 1:30 pm local time (Indian Standard Time – IST) on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 (which corresponds to approximately 08:00 GMT) when a cloudburst in the upper catchment of the Kheer Ganga River triggered a sudden flash flood through Dharal

Just today, a devastating cloudburst struck the Dharalai region of Uttarakhand. Triggered by the melting of multiple glaciers in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, a massive volume of water collected in a glacial lake. The pressure became too much. The lake cracked.

In a matter of moments, a torrent of water came rushing down the slopes, swallowing everything in its path. The water turned into a violent mudslide, destroying roads, sweeping away homes, markets, and lives.

People had built roadside markets, hotels, and homes along the riverbanks—areas once warned to be at risk. Today, many of them are buried beneath the mud and debris. Families have been torn apart. Lives lost. Dreams destroyed.

Earthquakes: The Ground Beneath Us Shifts

Tsunamis: Waves of Destruction

The Kamchatka quake also brought with it the threat of a Pacific-wide tsunami, sparking emergency alerts in coastal regions. Although the full impact was mitigated, this event served as a stark reminder of how undersea earthquakes can quickly escalate into multi-country disasters, especially in the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Early-warning systems were tested, and while widespread damage was averted, the event renewed discussions about improving preparedness in vulnerable coastal zones globally.

2025 was marked by significant seismic activity, most notably the 8.8-magnitude earthquake near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30, which triggered tsunami alerts across the Pacific. This powerful quake was caused by tectonic plate movement along the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench, a well-known seismic hotspot.
Seismic tremors were also frequent in the Himalayan region, keeping local populations on high alert. Interestingly, some researchers suggest that heavy rainfall might influence fault stability, potentially increasing the risk of earthquakes. While this theory remains under study, it highlights the complex interplay between Earth’s systems and climate patterns.

🌧️ Flash Floods and Cloudbursts: The Himalayan Crisis

In India’s Himalayan states, particularly Himachal Pradesh and Uttarkashi, intense cloudbursts—defined by rainfall exceeding 100 mm per hour—caused deadly flash floods and landslides throughout July and August. The steep terrain of the Himalayas makes the region especially prone to these events.

Climate change plays a significant role here. For every 1°C increase in global temperature, the atmosphere can hold about 7% more moisture, leading to the formation of larger, more dangerous storm clouds. Combined with deforestation and unplanned construction, heavy rains quickly turn into devastating floods, washing away roads, homes, and livelihoods.

What’s Fueling These Extremes?

The common thread in all these events? Climate change. Rising global temperatures are amplifying weather systems, increasing moisture in the air, accelerating glacier melt, and potentially destabilizing geological fault lines. At the same time, human activities—such as deforestation, unregulated development, and inadequate infrastructure—are turning natural phenomena into full-blown disasters.

The Way Forward: Building Climate Resilience

Looking ahead, it’s clear that extreme weather will become more frequent and intense unless urgent action is taken. Solutions include:

Urban planning that prioritizes sustainability and safety
Reforestation and ecological restoration in vulnerable regions
Investment in early warning systems for quakes, floods, and tsunamis
Bold climate action to reduce global carbon emissions

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