Extreme weather

Photo: a submerged road in Toronto

2026 has been another year filled with extreme weather events across the globe, especially heavy rainfall and flooding in many areas, and Toronto got its turn last week when it experienced a “100-year storm” (a storm that has only a 1% to happen in any given year). Torrential rainfall quickly overwhelmed the city’s infrastructure, flooding many areas of the city and leaving hundreds of cars submerged. Many people also lost power during the storm, and many vehicles and buildings were damaged by hail. Even a major sports stadium was seriously damaged and cleanup and repair efforts are still ongoing.

Flooding isn’t the only risk these days, though. Ontario (the province where I live) has become a hot spot for tornadoes, and wildfires have been affecting the area more and more, too. Historically, these extreme weather events have been more common in western Canada, but now we see them spreading across the whole country. In the past 5 years alone, I have seen several unusual events that I had never seen before in my life, including summer temperatures feeling like up to 48 degrees Celsius in Toronto.

Certain weather words that were almost unknown in the past have also become common in weather reports these days, such as heat dome, urban heat island, polar vortex, atmospheric river, and more. Have you noticed any new weather words in your language or weather events in your area?

the globe - Earth

torrential rainfall - extremely heavy rain (rainfall refers to the amount of rain that falls)

submerged - underwater or completely covered by liquid

lost power - had no electricity in their homes

cleanup and repair efforts - attempts to clean up and repair something (especially after a disaster, war, or extreme weather event)

hot spot - a place of more than usual interest, activity, or popularity

historically - in the past

heat dome / urban heat island / polar vortex / atmospheric river - *These are complex weather terms, and it may be easier to look up a translation/definition in your own language.