NORTHEAST, U.S. — Many records for rainfall amounts were set in the past year and, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), that trend is expected to continue. 

The EPA’s Climate Change Impact report states, “The Northeastern climate is experiencing noticeable changes that are expected to increase in the future. Between 1895 and 2011, temperatures rose by almost 2 degrees and projections indicate warming of 4.5 degrees to 10 degrees by the 2080s... The total amount of precipitation and the frequency of heavy precipitation events have also risen in the region. Between 1958 and 2012, the Northeast saw more than a 70% increase in the amount of rainfall measured during heavy precipitation events, more than in any other region in the United States.

Projections indicate continuing increases in precipitation, especially in winter and spring and in northern parts of the region. However, the timing of winter and spring precipitation could lead to drought conditions in summer as warmer temperatures increase evaporation and accelerate snow melt.”