no, indeed, no surprises here
VPIRG released a report today that confirms what many of us have suspected for some time: Vermont storms are getting worse as a result of global warming. Historical data, compiled by Environment America Research & Policy Center, shows an 84 percent increase in the frequency of extreme storms from 1948 to 2011, meaning that heavy downpours or snowstorms that happened once every 12 months on average in 1948 now happen every 6.5 months, on average.
The report (available for download here) also confirms that when big storms hit, they pack an even bigger punch than they used to. In fact, the intensity of extreme storms has increased 35 percent in Vermont since 1948.
Coming less than a year after Vermont suffered three major floods, including the devastation of Tropical Storm Irene, this report may not surprise, but it is important evidence that we're already experiencing the effects of global warming. Click here to download the full report.
I don't imagine this just applies to Vermont, either...