Asia’s monsoon rains are a mixed blessing. The heavy seasonal downpours are great for farmers, because crops must receive these rains in order to flourish. In 1770, when India’s monsoons failed to materialize, 10 million people died of starvation.
On the other hand, monsoons also cause floods that can destroy crops. More important, they wash away whole neighborhoods and villages. In 2013, Northern India suffered the deadliest monsoon floods on record—about 5,700 people perished.
Rainy weather remains a powerful force worldwide. On average, floods kill around 140 Americans each year.
