Choking fires, deadly heat and devastating floods: 2026 in extreme weather
The Guardian reviews 2026's extreme weather, from record Australian heat of 50C and wildfires to floods killing 72 in Brazil, 131 in Ethiopia, and Super Typhoon Sinlaku's 295km/h winds and $1.5bn in damages, and reports a death toll in the high tens of thousands, with scientists warning climate breakdown may be accelerating. UN secretary general António Guterres says the global climate is in a state of emergency and urges rapid cuts to fossil fuel emissions, and the Guardian warns 2026 may be one of the best years of the rest of our lives without urgent action.
