If you get the feeling that heavy downpours are more intense than they used to be, you’re not imagining it. According to the National Climate Assessment, the most extreme precipitation events (those in the 99th percentile of intensity) have increased in every region of the contiguous states since the 1950s. As the map above shows, the rise in intensity has been greatest in the Northeast and least in the Southwest — and in all cases, climate scientists believe, the reason is simple: in a world warmed by heat-trapping greenhouse gases, there’s more evaporation, and the atmosphere can hold on to more water. And when that water vapor condenses as rain or snow, there’s more of it.

Climate Facts

Climate Central


This Fact Page displays text and images related to global warming and climate change
(Hover your mouse over the text below to "popup" a window with a related text.
Click on the text or image to open a new window with a detailed description.)

 
Increase in Extreme Precipitation Events 1958-2012
The warmer atmosphere holds more water (about 4% per degree F) and a likely result has been be the increase in severe precipitation events in the last 50 years in the United States