Key aspects of the water cycle in 2024 over the global land area were:
Precipitation over land was close to the 1995–2005 average. Extremely dry months have become increasingly
common in recent decades, with 38% more record-dry months in 2024 than for the baseline period.
Daily precipitation extremes were 52% more common in 2024 than during 1995–2005, with record-breaking
daily rainfall events in West Africa, Europe and Asia. There has been a significant increasing trend of 4% per
decade over land.
Average temperature over land was the highest recorded globally and in 111 countries, and globally 1.2°C
above the 1995–2005 average. The frequency of record-warm months was the highest since 1979.
High temperature: new records were set for annual maximum temperature in 34 countries and hot days in 40
countries. Both show increasing trends.
Low temperatures: globally, the number of frost days over land was the lowest on record. Annual minimum
temperatures are increasing, especially in the tropics.
Relative air humidity over land was the highest since 2018, but a declining trend remains. Humidity was very
low in South America and Central Africa in 2024.
Soil water showed strong regional contrasts, with extreme dryness in South America and Southern Africa and
wet conditions in West Africa.
Vegetation condition was the highest since 2001, continuing a steady increase. Drought impacts on vegetation
were strongest in the Amazon region and Southern Africa.
Surface water extent over land was close to average. There has been an increasing trend in record-high
monthly water extent globally of 3% per decade since 2003.
River flows were very low in northern South America and high in Western, Central and Eastern Africa. There
has been an increasing trend in record-high flows of 21% per decade since 2001.
Lake and reservoir water storage worldwide declined for the fifth year in a row, with unprecedented lows in
South America and record-high levels in Africa.
Terrestrial water storage – underground and in surface water, ice and snow combined − showed ongoing low
values in 2024 in most of the world’s dry regions but strong increases in western, Central and Eastern Africa.
Rising temperatures, caused by continued burning of fossil fuels, disrupt the water cycle in multiple ways. Warmer air can hold more water vapour, leading to more intense downpours. Warmer seas provide more energy to hurricanes and typhoons, supercharging their destructive power. Global heating can also increase drought by causing more evaporation from soil, as well as shifting rainfall patterns.
Deadly flash floods hit Nepal and Brazil in 2024, while river flooding caused devastation in central Europe, China and Bangladesh. Super Typhoon Yagi, which struck south-east Asia in September, was intensified by the climate crisis, as was Storm Boris which hit Europe the same month.
Droughts also caused major damage, with crop production in southern Africa halving, causing more than 30 million people to face food shortages. Farmers were also forced to cull livestock as their pastures dried up, and falling output from hydropower dams led to widespread blackouts.
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