ABC News (US), on Climate, 25 October 2026

6.0out of 10Serious

Flash-flood threat continues in the Southwest, but outlook is improving

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Parts of the Southwest could see more flash flooding Sunday after heavy rains caused flooding on Saturday in New Mexico and Colorado. While the severe storm threat is less today, some storms Sunday afternoon and evening could be strong enough to produce gusty winds, isolated large hail and possible tornadoes. The flash flood threat continues, October 25, 2026, with a level 2 of 4 flood threat from western Texas up to southwest Kansas. ABC News A large area stretching from western Texas up into southwest Kansas is under a level 2 out of 4 threat Sunday for flooding.

Possible rainfall rates in parts of the Southwest could reach 2 inches per hour later Sunday. Related October nor'easter pummeling Mid-Atlantic coast with high winds and large waves Due to the ground being saturated from consecutive days of heavy rain across the region, the threshold for flash flooding is low for these areas, meaning it wouldn't take much rain to cause rapid flash flooding. The flood threat from Western Texas to southwest Kansas is expected to start winding down Monday, but some spotty flooding is still possible.

Flooding occurred in Shiprock, New Mexico, when the San Juan River crested, October 24, 2026, to its highest level since 1935, overflowing its banks, officials said. Navajo Police Department On Saturday, . Onshore flow brings high-tide flooding to Southeast coast In the Southeast, persistent onshore winds are expected to produce gusty winds and coastal flooding on Sunday.

Popular Reads Britt McHenry resigns from State Department after basketball game altercation 2 days ago Minnesota man credited with saving kids, school bus driver surprised with check 2 days ago 2 dead, 11 injured after Kansas mother drives onto soccer field during game: Police Oct 18 An area of high pressure over the Northeast, combined with a non-tropical low-pressure system in the Atlantic, are creating a corridor of persistent winds blowing onshore over the Southeast coast.

Gusts of 20 to 35 mph are possible along the coast from Sunday to Tuesday. Flood alerts remain in place, October 25, 2026, for the Southeast coastline from Miami to Hatteras, North Carolina. ABC News The blustery conditions, combined with king tides in the area -- the highest high tides of the year -- have prompted coastal flood alerts through Tuesday from Miami to North Carolina's Outer Banks. Southeast Florida, from Port St. Lucie to Miami, is under a level 2 out of 4 flash-flood threat on Sunday.

Flash flooding threat along Florida's east coastline, October 25, 2026. ABC News Minor to moderate flooding is expected to occur during high tide, with major high-tide flooding possible for parts of the Florida and Georgia coasts. Rough surf, rip currents and waves up to 12 feet are also possible in coastal waters from Florida to the Carolinas through Tuesday.

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What we found (1)

ABC News reports days of heavy rain, a record river crest that flooded neighbourhoods in Shiprock, New Mexico, and coastal flooding in the Southeast. It never tells its reader that warming makes extreme rainfall like this more frequent and more severe, so the floods read as weather with no wider cause.

  1. Leaves out the climate link

    Serious

    “the San Juan River in New Mexico crested at 21 feet, the highest recorded crest since 1935, causing the river to overflow its banks and flood neighborhoods in Shiprock”

    Why this matters
    ABC News reports a river crest at its highest level in nearly a century, flooding homes in Shiprock. It gives no word on why rainfall of this kind is becoming more common.
    The impression it gives
    A reader takes a record flood after consecutive days of heavy rain as a freak of the weather with no link to a warming climate.
    The context
    Human-caused warming has made heavy rainfall events more frequent and more intense. The article also describes consecutive days of heavy rain saturating the ground, yet nowhere mentions climate or warming.

    How we know

    • On the recordThat warming has made hot extremes, heavy rainfall, agricultural and ecological drought, fire weather and intense tropical cyclones more frequent or more severe.ipcc.ch (opens in a new tab)
    • Elsewhere in the article“consecutive days of heavy rain across the region”
    • Checked against the whole articleIt never uses the words “climate” and “warming”.

    Show it in the article

    Written straight

    On Saturday the San Juan River crested at 21 feet, its highest since 1935, flooding neighbourhoods in Shiprock after consecutive days of heavy rain. Warming caused by burning fossil fuels is making heavy rainfall like this more frequent and more intense.

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