Moreover, national impact summaries disguise local dislocations and disruptions to the ways we live, work and recreate. Climate change adds a serious stress to our already threatened resources and treasured places. Overall impact statements also mask significant opportunities. To minimize the negative changes and make the most of the positive changes we need to take a close look at how climate change will affect each region. Climate Projections for the Southeast Current climate models project regional temperature increases between 4 and 10 F by 2100, with an 8 to 15 F increase in the average summer heat index.
Models differ on the changes in precipitation in the Southeast.
This difference has serious hydrological implications for the region. Models also project an increase in heavy downpour events nationally whether or not average precipitation increases. Changes consistent with some of the model projections have already occurred in the Southeast. For example, over the past 50 years the average annual length of the snow season has decreased by 4 days regionally. Much of the precipitation has been associated with more intense events, which is more likely to cause flooding throughout the region.