The number of severe rainfalls and snowstorms across the U.S. has increased by around 24 percent in the last 50 years, says a new report from green group Environment America. In five states — Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont — instances of heavy precipitation have jumped by more than 50 percent. Let’s put it this way: “What was once the storm of the decade will now seem like an everyday downpour,” says Moira Bieg of the green group’s Pennsylvania affiliate. Oregon was the only state with a statistically significant drop in incidence of heavy rainfall since 1948; ironically, Oregon (along with Washington) this week was pummeled by a rainstorm that shut down the main highway, caused five deaths, and prompted both governors to declare states of emergency. By the by, climate change is likely to increase the intensity of storms. In case you had forgotten.
