As weather patterns shift, more energy will be used to keep buildings heated and cooled, increasing energy consumption.
The United States has faced changing weather patterns and an overall average temperature increase of 1.6°C, and this is expected to continue. Examples of shifting weather patterns include more severe drought in the Southwest and the Great Plains, and more precipitation in other parts of the country, such as the South. Precipitation extremes, with greater variation between wet-dry patterns, continue to worsen. Hurricanes in the South and Northeast are becoming stronger, and increased storm surges make it more difficult to protect against flooding.
Unfortunately, these patterns (rising temperatures, drought, and greater precipitation variability) are expected to worsen as climate change and El Niño and La Niña shape weather’s impact on the environment. Shifted seasonal patterns continue to affect the environment, with longer summers and colder winters.
As temperatures rise, heat waves in dry areas will increase ozone and particulate pollution. Humidity might help, because it traps pollutant particles. Increased heat waves mean drier air and soil, causing agricultural loss and making the environment more prone to forest fires. When drought conditions worsen, fires can decimate millions of acres of tree cover each year, and this is predicted to continue. Forest fires increase pollution as smoke particles enter the atmosphere and can affect people hundreds of miles away.
Flooding is expected to continue in the South and Northeast as precipitation continues to increase. Hurricanes and tropical storms are becoming stronger and wider, and with this trend and rising sea levels, flooding is expected to worsen in these areas.
During the winter, cold air causes people to idle their cars to defrost and keep them warm. This increases pollution and makes it more visible. Also, in cities where weather moves into the area over mountain valleys or basins, such as Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, and Denver, a warm air layer from pollution rises above the ground but stays below the colder air above. The warm air acts like a lid, trapping the cold air near the ground and causing a thermal inversion event that keeps pollutants near the surface.
As weather patterns continue to shift, more energy will be used to keep buildings insulated and air-conditioned, increasing energy consumption. Additionally, data centers use massive amounts of water and continue to harm local ecosystems by driving increased energy consumption.
In 2025, the United States launched the U.S. National Adaptation and Resilience Planning Strategy, a playbook it will continue to update in real time to build a cohesive adaptation plan to changing weather. New implementations include multi-level governance collaborating to combat extreme weather events and build resilient infrastructure. Another part of the playbook is to work with other countries to develop a global approach to climate resilience. Interestingly, as of September 2026, the federal government was still implementing the Strategy. This administration has lacked a proactive climate strategy. However, some hope remains that this current non-environmentally friendly administration will be overturned by a new tide, and action will be taken to move society forward in the name of climate once again.
This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard US Country Manager, Abby Carlson.