Climate Trends of 2021 Demonstrate the East-West Weather Divide Across the U.S.

Over the past year, extreme weather events have plagued the globe. Many of these disasters have been linked to human-caused climate change and as the climate continues to warm the increasing frequency of these events will likely persist. One particular climate trend afflicting the U.S. is a stark national precipitation divide between the east and the west, the east is too wet, while the west is too dry.  In other words, many eastern U.S. states witnessed above-average precipitation levels this year, while much of the Western U.S. experienced below-average precipitation. In the east, for example, Hurricane Ida produced record rainfall and flooding in parts of New York and Pennsylvania, hampering critical infrastructure services, including water and wastewater facilities. And in the west, extreme drought helped fuel intense wildfires.  

Climate change, which scientists believe is impacting precipitation levels, is contributing to the east-west weather divide in three ways. First, climate change increases overall precipitation. As temperatures rise, evaporation on the earth’s surface increases leading to more precipitation globally. Second, climate change leads to more intense precipitation. Since the 1950s, the frequency and intensity of significant precipitation events has increased over most terrestrial areas of earth. And third, climate change makes wet places wetter and dry places drier. This will certainly exacerbate water scarcity in arid locales, while increasing flooding hazards in wetter areas. Ultimately, the changing climate and the associated weather hazards will drive organizations to consider new ways and means for increasing their long-term resilience. Read more at the Conversation.