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Changing Rain and Snow Patterns

Walking in rainAs temperatures rise and the air becomes warmer, more moisture evaporates from land and water into the atmosphere. More moisture in the air generally means we can expect more rain and snow (called precipitation) and more heavy downpours. But this extra precipitation is not spread evenly around the globe, and some places might actually get less precipitation than they used to get. That's because climate change causes shifts in air and ocean currents, which can change weather patterns.

What's happening now?

This map uses color-coding to show how much the amount of annual precipitation has changed in different parts of the United States since 1901.

The amount of precipitation has changed in various parts of the United States since the early 20th century. Source: EPA's Climate Change Indicators (2014).

This diagram  of the Earth illustrates the concept of latitude. The equator is labeled zero degrees latitude, the North Pole is 90 degrees north, and the South Pole is 90 degrees south.

On average, the world is already getting more precipitation now than it did 100 years ago: 6 percent more in the United States and nearly 2 percent more worldwide.

The effects vary by region, though. For example, states in the Northeast are getting more precipitation than they used to get, but Hawaii is getting less.

What will happen in the future?

Precipitation is expected to increase in higher latitudes and decrease in areas closer to the Equator. The northern United States will become wetter while the South, particularly the Southwest, will become drier.

Why does it matter?

Too little or too much water can be a problem. In many places, people depend on rain and snowmelt to fill lakes and streams and provide a source of water for drinking, watering crops, and other uses. However, heavy rain can cause flooding.

Check out the major effects of changing rain and snow patterns on people and the environment:

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