Groundbreaking AccuWeather climate study reveals profound climate trends with far-reaching impacts

·10 min·1 clip

49% of homeowners say climate risk could cause them to move, according to a new Ken Insurance study.

The episode opens by discussing a Ken Insurance study on homeownership trends, revealing that 49% of homeowners say climate risk could cause them to move, and 93% worry about extreme weather damaging their homes within three years. It notes that 58% of homeowners would avoid moving to Florida due to extreme weather, with California, Hawaii, Louisiana, Texas, and Alaska also seen as high-risk states. The episode then transitions to AccuWeather's own climate study for the contiguous U.S., based on data from 44 weather stations. The study shows temperatures have increased an average of half a degree Fahrenheit per decade over the past 70 years. Dewpoint temperatures rose a third of a degree per decade until 1995, after which relative humidity decreased by 5.3%. Average annual rainfall has declined since 1995 by 2.7%, but heavy rainfall events have increased significantly, with 24-hour downpours over four inches up 70% and over two inches up 23%. Dr. Joel Myers, founder and executive chair of AccuWeather, explains the physical reasoning behind these trends. He describes how temperature and dew point increased together until 1995, keeping relative humidity constant, but after 1995, temperature continued to rise while dew point leveled off, causing a drop in humidity. This suggests a tipping point around 1995, where evaporation couldn't keep up with warming. The study indicates effective rainfall is declining by 2-3% per decade due to less frequent but more intense rain and higher evaporation rates. This could harm crop production and water supplies. The episode also links dry soil to accelerated heating and increased wildfire risk, noting this connection might be underestimated in climate models. It cautions that trends are national averages and may vary regionally, and they could reverse over time. The episode concludes by mentioning ongoing research into regional impacts and directing listeners to AccuWeather resources.

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