Mudslides and flooding triggered by torrential rains hit towns surrounding Lake Como in northern Italy this week, blocking roads and trapping dozens of people inside their homes.

With more rains expected, police urged people to stay indoors, while firefighters evacuated some buildings and tried to reach homes cut off by landslides.

This comes after deadly floods upended life in both China and Germany earlier this month, sending a stark reminder that climate change is making weather more extreme across the globe.

The floods are the latest in an accelerating pattern of extreme weather around the world, with Canada and western US states facing record-smashing high temperatures that have killed hundreds.

Climate experts say global warming is making weather extremes more likely and frequent.

But how much can we say about climate’s role in a specific weather event? Here’s what scientists had to say:

Climate change is never the sole cause of an extreme weather event, but it can sometimes be a significant contributing factor, according to specialists.

“An event is the result of many drivers. There are many factors that influence and may favour an extreme event,” said Nikos Christidis, a senior scientist at Britain’s Met Office.

But global warming is making the world’s weather hotter and more volatile in general, making it more likely that extreme events take place, said Maarten van Aalst, director of the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre.

Extreme events happen when climate change and natural weather variability come together - and may be influenced by other geographical factors, such as whether nearby rivers and lakes are empty enough to absorb water from heavy rains.

“There’s always an element of bad luck, but the chances of bad luck are increasing – quite rapidly in some cases.”

Read the full article about climate change and extreme weather at Eco-Business.