A storm with record rainfall hit the Rio Grande Valley along the US-Mexico border starting March 26, causing widespread flooding in the region.
In the US, the hardest-hit counties were Hidalgo, Willacy, and Cameron in South Texas. In Willacy, up to 15 inches of rain fell in just 6 hours, trapping many residents in their homes, requiring numerous rescue operations. According to the county's emergency coordinator, there has not been such flooding in the area since 1967.
In Cameron County, authorities urged residents to seek higher ground due to the threat of sudden flooding. In Harlingen, nearly 21 inches of rain fell in less than two days — almost the entire annual rainfall — causing streets to flood and water to enter homes.
In McAllen, the heavy rains flooded the largest hospital, where a powerful surge of water breached a wall and flowed through the corridors.
The storm was accompanied by destructive winds. In Hidalgo County, tornadoes were spotted on Thursday. Interstate 2 was submerged, and roads were littered with abandoned vehicles. The city of Alamo declared a local disaster. In Hidalgo, the storm claimed the lives of 3 people.
The storm caused power outages, flight cancellations, and school closures. Significant damage was done not only to homes, vehicles, and infrastructure, but also to agriculture and livestock in Texas.
In Mexico, heavy rains triggered flooding in the north of the country, affecting the states of Nuevo León, Coahuila, Tamaulipas, and Chihuahua. The overflow of a river in Tamaulipas led to mass evacuations and the death of one person in the city of Reynosa. In Monterrey, torrents of water swept away vehicles and flooded homes. In Coahuila, water levels reached critical levels in some areas, isolating several communities from the outside world.
It is worth noting that in many places, rainfall exceeded the forecasts by a significant margin.
The recent flooding in Texas and Mexico is just one of many manifestations of the accelerating ocean warming, which leads to increased rainfall and extreme weather events. This raises important questions for humanity: how can we stop these negative processes from escalating, and what innovations can help restore ecosystem balance? Scientists have already found answers and are confident that a solution exists.
This is covered in the popular science film "The Anthropogenic Factor of Ocean's Demise," which highlights the urgency of action and shows how technology can help tackle the escalating problem of climate disasters.