2050 weather forecast: what life could be like on a warmer planet?

If humanity’s greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase, the average temperature of the Earth’s lower atmosphere could rise by more than 4°C (7.2°F) by the end of the 21st century. But what does a global average temperature rise really mean? How would we experience it on a daily basis? How would it affect our homes and the places we cherish?

To find out what could lie in store, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) invited television weather presenters from around the world to imagine a “weather report from the year 2050.” What they created are only possible scenarios, of course, and not true forecasts. Nevertheless, they are based on the most up-to-date climate science, and they paint a compelling picture of what life could be like on a warmer planet.

The WMO is releasing these videos in advance of the December 2015 United Nations climate change conference in Paris (COP-21). It highlights the need for action to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen our climate resilience.

credit: WMO – USA Weather Channel