Rising temperatures due to human-caused climate change significantly impact extreme weather by increasing the frequency, intensity, and severity of many types of extreme events.

How Rising Temperatures Impact Extreme Weather

• Increased likelihood and severity: About 74% of nearly 750 studied extreme weather events were made more likely or severe by climate change, with 83% showing some human influence overall

• Heatwaves: Higher global temperatures cause hotter and longer heatwaves. Even small increases in average temperature make extreme heat events more frequent and intense, leading to health risks and increased hospitalizations

• Heavy rainfall and floods: Warmer air holds about 7% more moisture per 1°C rise, intensifying rainfall and increasing the risk of floods. Climate change has made heavy rainfall events and floods more frequent and severe in many regions

• Hurricanes and storms: Warmer ocean waters provide more energy for hurricanes, making them stronger, more intense, and faster intensifying. Rising sea levels from melting ice and ocean expansion increase storm surges and flooding risks

• Droughts: Higher temperatures boost evaporation, drying soils and worsening drought conditions in many areas, compounding heat stress and water scarcity

• Winter storms: Although winters are generally milder, climate change can cause heavier snowfall and more extreme winter weather due to trapped moisture and disruptions in polar air patterns like the polar vortex

• Regional variations: The effects vary by region due to factors like soil moisture, land use, aerosols, and natural variability. Some regions experience amplified temperature extremes or localized cooling effects, but overall warming trends dominate

Summary

Rising temperatures from increased greenhouse gases trap heat, warm the atmosphere and oceans, and alter the water cycle and weather patterns. This leads to more frequent and intense heatwaves, heavier precipitation and flooding, stronger hurricanes, worsening droughts, and complex changes in winter weather. These changes are projected to increase as global warming continues, with even small increments causing significant shifts in extreme weather patterns