The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) shares a warning that the global water cycle has become increasingly erratic, swinging violently between deluge and drought. A new WMO report, called the State of Global Water Resources, highlights the cascading impacts of this instability on economies and communities across the globe.
In 2024, only about one-third of the planet's river basins experienced "normal" conditions. For the sixth consecutive year most river basins registered either above or below normal hydrologic conditions, demonstrating a clear imbalance. For example, in 2024 severe drought gripped the Amazon Basin and parts of southern Africa, while central Europe and sections of Asia contended with wetter-than-normal conditions.
The report also identified widespread glacier loss across all regions. Many smaller glacial regions are now near the "peak water point," meaning their meltwater runoff will decline as glacier shrinkage continues. This global melt is significantly contributing to sea level rise.
The WMO emphasizes that science-based data on these cycles is more critical than ever before as we cannot manage what is not measured. Addressing the increasingly extreme global water cycle requires immediate and collaborative action.
