Twenty-first century increases in total and extreme precipitation across the Northeastern USA

Summary/Abstract

Previous research has established that both total precipitation and extreme precipitation events have increased dramatically across the northeastern United States in the past 30 years. This study aims both to project future precipitation patterns and to discern the causes of significant changes in precipitation patterns. Using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) regional climate model, the researchers found that, particularly in winter months, total precipitation will likely increase moderately, and extreme precipitation events will likely increase dramatically, in the Northeastern United States throughout the current century, compared to 1976-2005 levels. Researchers found that the increase in precipitation is strongly driven by increase in precipitable water over the Eastern United States and the Atlantic Ocean.