Europe's 1342 St. Mary Magdalene’s Flood was part of a 16-event disaster sequence

New research indicates that the infamous St. Mary Magdalene’s Flood of 1342 was not an isolated catastrophe, but rather the most destructive part of a sequence of 16 major flood events that struck Europe between 1341 and 1343.

By analyzing over 1,000 contemporary sources—including historical chronicles, legal documents, and archaeological evidence—researchers led by TU Wien identified a cluster of extreme weather. The sequence included a wet autumn in 1341, major floods in late 1341, the Candlemas Flood in February 1342, and several spring floods before the massive Magdalena Flood in late July 1342.

The cumulative impact of these repeated inundations caused widespread destruction to infrastructure, such as a stone bridge across the Vltava, and led to thousands of fatalities from drowning, food shortages, and disease. Scientists suggest that volcanic eruptions, shifts in atmospheric circulation, or shrinking Arctic sea ice may have contributed to this period of extreme weather. The study emphasizes the importance of modern flood planning to account for multiple extreme events occurring in rapid succession.