Heading south: Warming to change how US cities feel in 2080

https://www.nola.com/environment/2019/02/heading-south-warming-to-change-how-us-cities-feel-in-2080.html

Updated Feb 13, 11:06 AM; Posted Feb 13, 11:06 AM

The climate in New York City in 60 years could feel like Arkansas now. Chicago could seem like Kansas City and San Francisco could get a Southern California climate if global warming pollution continues at the current pace, a new study finds.

•••••

"The children alive today, like my daughter who is 12, they're going to see a dramatic transformation of climate. It's already under way," said study lead author Matt Fitzpatrick. He's an ecology professor at the University of Maryland's Center for Environmental Sciences in Frostburg, Maryland, which won't quite measure up to its name with climate more like current day southern Kentucky.

•••••

The 540 cities on average move 528 miles to the south climate-wise, if carbon emissions keep soaring. If the world cuts back, the cities move on average 319 miles.

The city that moves the most is Wasilla, Alaska, which if emissions aren’t cut back could feel like eastern Wisconsin, 11 degrees warmer in the summer. It’s a change of about 2,720 miles.

•••••