Future

Future US Severe Thunderstorm Frequency 0413 - PDF map

Climate Change in the Midwest - UCS 0809 - PDF, 24 pages

Average summer temperatures and rainfall for 1961-90, 2010-39, 2040-69 & 2070-99.

Red is for the high emissions scenario, orange for the low emissions scenario.

     Weather changes in other parts of the US (and the world) will be broadly similar to those projected for the Northeast.  By 2100, places in the Northeast would get 50-60 more days over 90°F and 3-20 more days 100°F.  A larger fraction of rain would come in intense events (days with more than 2 inches would rise 40-50%).  1-3 month droughts would double, 3-6 month droughts triple, and droughts longer than 6 months quadruple.  Winter days with snow on the ground would fall to 1/4 to 1/2 as many as now.

Migrating Climates in the Northeast & Their Impacts - UCS 0707 - PDF, 160 pages

     The UCS maps of migrating climates show how the climate in states now will feel like states further south (& a little west) in mid-century, and much further late this century.  Averaged across all 15 states, in the high emissions case, it's like moving 330 miles SSW for 2040-69 and 660 miles SSW for 2070-99.

      For example, by the end of the century, New Hampshire would feel like the Piedmont today in North Carolina and Virginia, unless we cut carbon emissions deeply.  Rhode Island's climate would be like Savannah's.  Indiana's climate would resemble today's Virginia in winter and Oklahoma in summer.  Minnesota's summer climate would resemble the Kansas climate of today.  By 2100, absent steep carbon emission cuts, western Pennsylvania's climate would feel like Alabama's today.

Section Map: Weather & Sea Level Rise