Extreme weather is no longer an occasional headline but a daily reality across the United States, a trend that experts say is accelerating as the planet warms.
During the Aspen Ideas: Climate session Forecasting the Future, veteran meteorologist Tom Skilling, former NOAA Chief Scientist Sarah Kapnick, and television personality Al Roker examined how increasing wildfires, heat domes, torrential rainfall, and tornadoes are reshaping communities, businesses, and national security.
Extreme Weather by the Numbers
The speakers presented data illustrating the growing scale of climate-related events.
In 2026, the United States recorded more than 40,000 wildfires, burning nearly four million acres of land.
Canadian firefighting crews have simultaneously battled as many as 900 active fires.
Ocean temperatures across the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico remain between 2°C and 5°C above normal, creating marine heatwave conditions that contribute to stronger storms and increased coastal erosion.
Scientists also noted the development of a strong El Niño, which could reach "super" status and has already contributed to an unusually active Pacific hurricane season.
Tropical Storm Bertha, located south of Panama City, Florida, and Tropical Storm Elita were highlighted as examples of heightened tropical activity.
Changing Weather Patterns Around the World
The discussion emphasized that climate impacts extend well beyond tropical storms.
A dip in the jet stream over Europe created a persistent heat dome, driving temperatures more than 30°C above average while producing wind gusts that increased dramatically from 58 mph to 175 mph within a single day.
In the United States, tornado reports climbed to 476—approximately 120 percent of the 17-year average—with activity concentrated in the Midwest while the Southeast and Texas experienced fewer tornadoes.
Major flooding affected Utah, the Midwest, and the Northeast.
The Texas Hill Country experienced more than 28 inches of rainfall during a single event, equivalent to approximately 400 billion gallons of water, in what experts classified as a one-in-10,000-year flood.
Turning Climate Science into Action
Sarah Kapnick emphasized that the greatest challenge is no longer collecting scientific information but translating it into meaningful action.
"Facts matter," she explained, describing how her work combines atmospheric science, psychology, economics, and national security to help organizations better understand climate risks and make informed decisions.
She described today's rapidly changing conditions as an era of weather weirding, where extreme weather events occur more frequently and with greater intensity.
Infrastructure Under Increasing Pressure
Much of the nation's infrastructure was designed for weather conditions that no longer reflect today's climate.
New York City's storm-drain system, originally engineered to handle approximately 1.75 inches of rainfall per hour, has repeatedly been overwhelmed by recent storms, leading to widespread flooding.
Traditional tunnel systems, designed primarily to withstand pressure from above, now face increasing stress from floodwaters pushing outward.
Chicago's extensive storm-water management system, first developed during the 1970s and expanded through hundreds of miles of tunnels and reservoirs, recently faced a major test when three inches of rain fell during a single July 4 weekend—an amount that would normally accumulate over an entire month.
The city plans to expand system capacity by 50 percent during the 2030s to prepare for increasing rainfall.
Innovative Climate Adaptation
Communities across the country are beginning to adopt new approaches to flood management.
New Orleans has started converting playgrounds into temporary floodwater storage areas.
Construction companies are developing specialized flood-management teams that incorporate underground water storage beneath roads, parking lots, and other public infrastructure.
Government agencies are also preparing updated precipitation-risk maps to support future infrastructure planning, recognizing that rainfall events once considered extremely rare may become much more frequent in a warming climate.
Business Resilience and Climate Planning
Businesses are increasingly viewing climate resilience as a strategic investment rather than an unavoidable expense.
Organizations are conducting cost-benefit analyses with local governments and often finding that investing in preventive infrastructure is significantly less expensive than recovering from disasters.
Collaborative funding models and shared technical expertise are becoming common approaches for improving flood resilience.
Kapnick noted that companies integrating climate adaptation into their long-term strategies are better positioned to maintain operations during both sudden disasters and gradual climate changes.
Preparing for the Future
The panel concluded that there is no universal solution to climate adaptation.
Geography, infrastructure, and industry all require different approaches.
Despite differing opinions on climate policy, the speakers agreed that developing what Kapnick described as climate intuition—anticipating risks before disasters occur and investing in early, practical solutions—will be essential as extreme weather becomes an increasingly permanent feature of modern life.