April showers bring May flowers……and sometimes more rain. We’re seeing more rainfall and flooding, as well as worse heat waves, hurricanes, wildfires and drought risks. In other words, wet places are getting wetter, dry places are becoming drier and the April showers we remember from our youth are becoming deluges in some places. How much more rain are we now getting? It depends where you live, but two places stand out. Since 1950, the Northeast has seen an increase of around 60% in extreme precipitation days, and the Midwest has seen a 45% increase. Both areas have experienced more flooding. So far, 2026 holds a surprising record: the driest first three months on record for the U.S. Still, extreme rain and storm events have occurred, including in Pittsburgh, where the city saw a record-breaking rain and widespread flooding in March. March also brought supercell thunderstorms, 6-inch hail, and tornadoes to Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. So what’s going on? What has changed is the rate of carbon dioxide emissions, or greenhouse gas emissions, and the temperature, and it’s happening 50-100 times faster than we’ve seen before. Nevertheless, you can still prepare for extreme spring weather.
• Know your risk: Check to see if your home, school or workplace is in a flood-prone zone or other high-risk area.
• Have an evacuation plan: Map routes in case of flooding; some roads are more prone to flooding than others, so know where you are going before you start.
• Prepare emergency kits: Include evacuation information and first aid supplies. Ready.gov has a full list of suggested items.
• Create a communication plan: Include friends, family and neighbors. Know who should go where when.
• Charge your devices: Have necessary electronics charged and ready to be without electricity access.
• Stay informed and follow all evacuation orders: Download weather apps or watch your local news to stay informed.
