Hello,
This week's Climate Focus takes a look at the storms that have wreaked havoc across China and Mexico.
Central and southern China were on high alert for more flash floods on Friday as the annual East Asia monsoon gathered pace and extreme rainfall threatened disruption in the world's second-largest economy.
Extreme rainfall and severe flooding, which meteorologists link to climate change, increasingly pose major challenges for policymakers. They threaten to overwhelm ageing flood defences, displace millions and wreak havoc on China's $2.8 trillion agricultural sector.
China's rainy season, which arrived earlier than usual this year in early June, is usually followed by intense heat that scorches any crops that survive waterlogged soil, depletes reservoirs and warps roads and other infrastructure.
Economic losses from natural disasters exceeded $10 billion last July, when the rainfall typically peaks.
Over in Mexico, Hurricane Erick weakened to a tropical storm after making landfall on Mexico's southern Pacific coast on Thursday, leaving flooded streets and damaged boats and buildings in Oaxaca as authorities warned of dangerous rains.
In coastal towns, residents began clearing debris. "There are many boats sunk here," said fisherman Eduardo Gonzalez in Puerto Escondido. "We're here to help our colleagues."
"Life-threatening flooding and mudslides are expected, especially in areas of steep terrain," the U.S. National Hurricane Center said, forecasting up to 8 inches (20 cm) of rain for Guerrero state with up to 4 inches for its neighboring Oaxaca and Michoacan states.
Mexico's environment ministry also had warned of waves of up to 10 meters (33 feet).
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