By Atoyebi Nike
The UN World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has warned that floods, storms, and water-related disasters will continue to worsen as global warming places unprecedented pressure on the world’s water resources.
“Water-related hazards continue to cause major devastation this year. Unfortunately, we see no end to this trend,” WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said on Thursday, September 18, 2025. She cited recent monsoon floods in Pakistan, flash floods in Bali, and rising waters in South Sudan as examples.
According to the agency’s latest report, 2024 was the hottest year in 175 years of observation, with global surface temperatures averaging 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels. It was also the third consecutive year of massive glacial loss, with 450 gigatonnes of ice disappearing enough to raise sea levels by 1.2 millimetres.
WMO experts cautioned that events once considered “once-in-a-century” floods are now occurring more frequently. The report also flagged wetter-than-normal conditions across Africa, Asia, and Europe, stressing the urgent need for improved monitoring of streamflow, groundwater, and water quality.
“The melting glaciers and rising seas are an existential threat to millions worldwide,” Stefan Uhlenbrook, WMO’s Director of Hydrology, warned, urging stronger global cooperation to mitigate climate risks.
