Dan DePodwin, AccuWeather vice president of forecast operations, was live on the AccuWeather Network to discuss flash flooding.

Seagraves

AccuWeather's Vice President of Forecast Operations, Dan DiPadua, discussed the growing frequency and intensity of flash floods across the United States, citing an exclusive analysis of atmospheric data over the past 30 years. The analysis shows a clear upward trend in total column water vapor, indicating more moisture in the air and a greater potential for extreme rainfall when storms occur.

The recent weather pattern, marked by a strong Bermuda high and an active storm track from Canada, has contributed to significant flash flooding in several regions, including Texas, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. DiPadua emphasized that while rainfall events may not be more frequent, the increased moisture in a warmer atmosphere—linked to climate change—means that when rain does fall, it is more likely to result in severe flash floods.

Flash floods surge as rainfall grows more intense

What makes flash floods so common and so dangerous? Here to discuss is AccuWeather Vice President of Forecast Operations, Dan DiPadua. Dan, we appreciate you being with us this morning. And of course, we've covered a lot of the deadly floods, but we're breaking into it more. And you tell me, this is an AccuWeather exclusive analysis. Yeah. Good morning, Ariella. This is an exclusive analysis that we do. We've obviously been covering the flash floods of the last several weeks across the U.S., very extensively, the record nature of those floods. In summer, a time for flash flooding, the most prone time of year in the U.S. But what we did here at AccuWeather is we took a look at a specific data set over the last 30 years here plotted behind me, taking a look at what's called the total column water vapor, which is the amount of moisture in a column of air. We looked at that across the entire United States. And you can see that clear trend over the last 30 years, that increased trend over since 1995 or so to 2025. And more moisture in the air means there's more opportunity for extreme rainfall events when rain does fall. Okay, but something has to make those clouds build, make the rain fall. So what has the pattern in combination with the extreme moisture look like? So the pattern we've had this so far this summer, pretty favorable for this, a strong Bermuda high, that's the area of high pressure that sits near Bermuda over the course of the summer months on the stronger side this year. And that means the flow around that area of high pressure feeds tropical moisture into the United States. And that combined with a very active storm track south from Canada has allowed ample opportunity for thunderstorms, not just here in the Ohio Valley and Midwest, but as we've seen unfortunately in Texas, North Carolina and parts of the Northeast, New Jersey and Massachusetts all have experienced significant flash floods over the last several weeks. Some significant data, and if you were to kind of sum it up, hit some of those main points and cover why this is so important. So it's a really, it's a very impressive pattern in the last number of weeks, near records amounts of moisture in the atmosphere, as we just showed on that chart, a clear 30-year trend. That moisture, that increased moisture means that there's more opportunity for extreme flash flood events when rain does happen. Doesn't make necessarily rainfall more frequent, but when it does happen, those extreme rainfall rates are more significant. Again, we talked about that strong Bermuda high. And the last piece, really the climate change piece, one of the more clear links between climate change and what we see every day is the fact that a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture. So again, when in the summer, when the atmosphere is warmer, you can hold more moisture in a warmer atmosphere and that causes a higher risk of flash flooding. Acura, Vice President of Forecast Operations Dan Bode-Podwin, we appreciate you and your team breaking down and giving us that exclusive, accurate analysis of all the flooding we've seen so far this summer. You're welcome.

Protestors showed up at the federal courthouse in Boston on Monday amid Harvard's $2 billion legal battle with the Trump administration.

Boston

Protestors gather outside courthouse amid Harvard-Trump hearing

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, an actor and artist who rose to fame as a child as Theodore Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” has died in a drowning accident in Costa Rica, where he was on vacation with his family, according to a source close to the actor.

Los Angeles

‘The Cosby Show’ star Malcolm-Jamal Warner dead at 54

An off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent was shot after an apparent robbery went wrong in New York, officials say. New York Mayor Eric Adams said a 21-year-old undocumented immigrant was taken into custody. The agent is in stable condition and is expected to survive.

New York

Off-duty Border Patrol agent shot in NYC by undocumented migrant

The jet crashed onto the campus of Milestone School and College in Dhaka's Uttara neighbourhood, where students were taking tests and attending regular classes.

Dhaka

At least 20 killed after Bangladesh Air Force jet crashes into school

An investigation into Jeju Air's fatal plane crash in December has found "clear evidence" that pilots shut off the less-damaged engine after a bird strike in South Korea, a source told Reuters. But a progress report was not released as planned, after families of the bereaved protested some of its phrasing.

Muan-gun

Report says pilot shut wrong engine before Jeju Air crash

Iran, China and Russia will discuss Tehran's nuclear activities and sanctions on Tuesday, with the E3 nations set for talks on Friday amid threats of reimposing sanctions.

Tehran

Iran to consult with Russia, China ahead of European nuclear talks

Hundreds of Bedouin civilians were evacuated from Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida on Monday (July 21) as part of a U.S.-backed truce meant to end fighting that has killed hundreds of people, state media and witnesses said.

As Suwayda

Bedouin civilians evacuate Syria's Sweida as tense truce holds

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba vowed to remain in office on Monday after his ruling coalition suffered a bruising defeat in upper house elections, prompting some of his own party to deliberate his future as the opposition weighed a no-confidence motion.

Tokyo

Japan PM Ishiba vows to stay on after bruising election defeat

Police say Fernando Ramirez drove onto a crowded sidewalk outside a Los Angeles nightclub early Saturday, injuring dozens. He was later shot by a bystander who fled the scene, prompting a citywide search.

Police search for gunman after car-ramming attack in L.A.

Japan's ruling coalition is certain to lose control of the upper house in election, public broadcaster NHK reported, an outcome that further weakens Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's grip on power as a tariff deadline with the United States looms.

Japan's ruling coalition loses control of upper house

Iran's foreign minister has said the country France, Germany and the UK are looking to set a date for a meeting for nuclear talks, in what could be a step toward ending the protracted impasse over Iran's nuclear programme and Western concerns.

Middle East Conflict

Iran and three European powers set to resume nuclear talks

The Trump administration said on Saturday (July 19) it will take action against Mexico under its "America First" policy, saying the Mexican government's earlier decision to cut flight slots in Mexico City, which affects U.S. airlines, violates a bilateral air agreement.

Washington

U.S. threatens Mexican flights over cargo, competition issues

U.S. President Donald Trump has sued the Wall Street Journal and its owners including Rupert Murdoch for at least $10 billion, over the report that his name was on a 2003 birthday greeting for Jeffrey Epstein that included a sexually suggestive drawing and a reference to secrets they shared.

Trump sues Wall Street Journal for $10 billion over Epstein report

Over 200 Venezuelans who were deported from the U.S. on allegations of gang membership earlier this year and detained in an El Salvador jail have arrived home to Caracas as part of a coordinated prisoner exchange. Ten Americans held in Venezuela returned to the U.S., officials said.

Caracas

El Salvador sends detained Venezuelans home in swap for Americans

Japanese voters headed to the polls on Sunday (July 20) in a tightly contested upper house election that could unleash political turmoil, with rising prices, immigration concerns and the emergence of a Trump-style "Japanese-first" party threatening to weaken Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's grip on power.

Japan heads to the polls for Upper House elections

The violent clashes between the Druze minority, Bedouins and other armed groups in the southern province of Sweida have left at least 900 people dead. Some reports suggest that fighting may have halted early on Sunday.

Damascus

Syrian interim president urges respect of ceasefire in Sweida clashes

The proposal comes as Russia continues to intensify its long-range attacks on Ukraine, often firing more drones in a single night than it did during some months in 2024.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Zelenskyy proposes new round of peace talks with Russia

Stacey Williams, a former Sports Illustrated model who briefly dated Jeffrey Epstein speaks with CNN’s Brianna Keilar and describes Epstein’s relationship with Donald Trump. She also alleges Trump once groped her in 1993, but he denies the claim.

Epstein’s ex-girlfriend describes alleged incident with Trump

A vehicle rammed into a crowd of people waiting to enter an East Hollywood nightclub, injuring 30, seven of them critically, in Los Angeles on Saturday morning. Authorities say bystanders attacked the driver, who also sustained a gunshot wound.

West Hollywood

Driver crashes into line of people in Hollywood, police say he was shot

A boat full of tourists capsized during a storm in one of the country's most iconic tourist destinations, leaving at least 34 dead and eight missing. Rescue efforts continue as a new tropical storm approaches.

Hạ Long Bay

Dozens drown after tourist boat capsizes in Ha Long Bay

The agreement comes after intense clashes displaced tens of thousands of people and contributed to a worsening humanitarian crisis in a region still recovering from over a decade of brutal civil war.

U.S. says Israel-Syria agree to ceasefire, clashes continue in Sweida

Ukraine has appointed a new prime minister, 39-year-old Yulia Svyrydenko, as part of a sweeping government reshuffle announced by President Volodymyr Zelenkskyy. This marks the most significant political shift since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

Yulia Svyrydenko takes charge as Ukraine's new prime minister

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, currently on trial at the Supreme Court, has been ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor. Bolsonaro is accused of leading an alleged attempt to stage a coup to overturn the 2022 election.

Rio de Janeiro

Brazil's Bolsonaro ordered to wear ankle monitor

At least three deputies were killed after an explosion at a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department training facility, officials said. Attorney General Pam Bondi said federal agents were at the scene.

Three killed in explosion at L.A. County Sheriff's Department facility

The UK's Labour Party has passed a landmark electoral reform, aligning with Scotland and Wales in lowering the voting age from 18 to 16. The change fulfills a key promise by the ruling party but garnered criticism from the Conservative Party.

London

UK lowers voting age from 18 to 16 in historic electoral reform

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a rescissions package to slash $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting funding, sending the bill to President Donald Trump's desk.

U.S. House passes $9 billion cut to foreign aid, public broadcasting

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday night ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to help facilitate the release of grand jury transcripts related to Jeffrey Epstein as the administration faces pressure to share more materials on the case.

Trump orders release of Epstein-related grand jury transcripts

The European Union has agreed to impose a new round of sanctions against Russia, targeting the country's energy and financial sectors in a bid to tighten the screws on the Kremlin's war machine and force a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine.

Moscow

EU imposes new sanctions on Russia's oil and banks

U.S. President Donald Trump denies writing a letter signed 'Donald' beneath a nude sketch in Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday album, details of which were published by the Wall Street Journal. The letter is now under review by the U.S. Justice Department.

Trump denies writing crude letter to Jeffrey Epstein

Following a call with President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a rare apology, saying the only Catholic church in Gaza was hit by stray ammunition. The blast killed three civilians. Ramy Inocencio reports.

Breakdown