From Europe to Asia, floods to heatwaves, world experiences weather shocks

At least eight people died in Japan as heavy rains flooded roads and disrupted traffic while firefighters from Britain to France and Croatia struggled to contain blazes in Europe's fifth heatwave this summer

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7290x4860+0+0/resize/7290x4860!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd3%2F1c%2F26832b3d4aec807e53cca280bfe9%2Fgettyimages-2289788391.jpg' alt='A man rides his bike along a flooded road near Chiba metro station in Chiba, Japan, on Aug. 13, 2026, as heavy rain swept through the area. Torrential rain pummeled eastern Japan, triggering landslides and power outages, and prompting the weather authority to issue its highest-level heavy rain warning for the region for the first time.'/><p>At least eight people died in Japan as heavy rains flooded roads and disrupted traffic while firefighters from Britain to France and Croatia struggled to contain blazes in Europe's fifth heatwave this summer</p><p>(Image credit: PHILIP FONG)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=g-s1-138727' />