Rising Flood Frequency in High Mountain Asia

In February 2025, a study published revealed a significant increase in flood frequency across High Mountain Asia, with 1,015 floods recorded since 1950.

Key Points

Warming Trends: The region has been warming at 0.3°C per decade since 1950, altering precipitation patterns and increasing flood unpredictability.
Shifting Flood Patterns: While most floods still occur during the monsoon, there is a rising number of floods outside traditional monsoon periods.
Main Flood Types:
- Heavy rain & snowmelt floods – the most common.
- Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) – sudden, high-impact events caused by melting glaciers.
- Landslide-Dammed Lake Outburst Floods (LLOFs) – triggered by landslides blocking and later bursting lakes.
Climate Change as a Key Driver: Planetary heating due to fossil fuel burning is intensifying all four flood types.
Rising Risk Factors: Increasing population and infrastructure development expose more people to flood hazards.