Most of the United States affected by severe weather

 

Most of the United States affected by severe weather

Some areas of the United States are considered safer than other extreme weather-fueled events. Still, no region will be untouched, especially as greenhouse gases continue to build up in the atmosphere.

Climate change increases the intensity - and in many cases, the frequency - of these types of events. This is coming from heavy rain or snow, heatwaves, and wildfires.

 Some areas present known and documented hazards - think how vulnerable the coast of Louisiana has been to storms or how 18 of the 20 largest recorded fires have occurred in California since 2000.

But many other areas experience extreme weather of their own, such as this year's deadly flash floods in Tennessee.

This year also saw solid and dangerous wind events caused by severe thunderstorms in the Midwest and drought records in the West.

Other metrics indicate similar risks, often in densely populated areas, such as record-breaking summer heat in Pacific Northwest cities.

What they're saying: "No place in the United States (or on Earth) is completely free of risk from the effects of climate change," Brown University professor of environmental studies, Lawrence C. Smith, said in an email.

Yes, but: "The central, central, and northeastern inland states along the Canadian border may experience some of this damage somewhat less severely than other areas of the country," Smith said.

The next step: Reducing the future scope of extreme weather risks will require global emissions cuts to reduce global warming.

But significant warming and extreme climate damage have already been overcome, which will require risk management and adaptation decisions - personal and governmental.

Threat level: Michael Weiner, an expert on how climate change affects extreme weather at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, told Axios via email that "as extreme temperatures continue to rise, outdoor work must change."

"So far, these workers must have access to cooling plants, water, etc. to avoid heatstroke and other diseases," he said, adding that changing working hours to avoid peaks will become even more critical during heat waves.

Bottom line: Smith said he recently purchased land in the Adirondack area of ​​New York State — primarily for personal enjoyment and forest preservation, "but also with climate change in mind."