Climate Change and Changing Weather Patterns

The Big Picture

Earth's average surface temperature has risen about 1.1°C since pre-industrial times. While that sounds small, it represents an enormous amount of extra energy in the climate system — energy that is reshaping weather patterns worldwide.

What Is Changing

More Intense Heat Waves

A warmer baseline means heat waves start from a higher point. Events that were once-in-50-year occurrences are now happening every 5-10 years.

Heavier Rainfall Events

A warmer atmosphere holds 7% more moisture per 1°C of warming. When it rains, there is more water to dump. Extreme rainfall events have increased in frequency and intensity globally.

Longer Droughts

While total global precipitation may not change dramatically, its distribution is shifting. Wet regions are getting wetter, dry regions drier, and the gaps between rain events are growing in many areas.

Stronger Tropical Cyclones

Warmer ocean water provides more fuel for hurricanes and typhoons. While the total number of storms may not increase, the proportion reaching Category 4-5 intensity is growing.

Attribution Science

Modern climate science can now calculate how much more likely a specific weather event was due to climate change. For example, the 2021 Pacific Northwest heat dome was found to be "virtually impossible" without human-caused warming.

What This Means for Daily Life

• Check heat advisories more frequently in summer
• Expect more variable rainfall — both more flooding and more drought
• Building codes and infrastructure need updating for new weather extremes
• Weather forecasts become even more important for planning

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