Chicago Weather Watch

New Climate Normals

Recently, NOAA released its new 30-year normals for our changing climate, spanning the years 1991-2020. For the past decade, the normals have been based on weather observations from 1981 to 2010.

What do these “new normals” show?

A warmer and wetter climate, evidence of global warming. As many climatologists and environmentalists have been saying, a warmer and wetter climate has implications for all aspects of life—from length of growing seasons to severe weather outbreaks.

Global warming means an increase in wildfires, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes. More weather extremes, and fluctuations in the polar vortex.

The warming climate affects all living things on earth. From the coral reefs to polar bears and migratory birds. While human activity has contributed to global warming, it is not too late for us to make changes for the future.

Denial is not an option. Delay and debate are not solutions.

The pandemic has made some things very clear. This is one world, of many different people, interconnected and interdependent, but not equal. It is the most vulnerable who suffer. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Filed under:
climate change, history, nature, seasons, weather