(MENAFN) The United States is often hit by strong, costly, and frequent extreme weather events, and experts attribute it to the country's geography. The country is surrounded by two oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Rocky Mountains, along with jutting peninsulas such as Florida. These natural features combine with clashing storm fronts and the jet stream to create the harshest weather conditions.
While nature may have dealt the U.S. a bad hand, experts point out that humans have made things worse by the way we build and where we choose to live. Our infrastructure and development often exacerbate the impacts of extreme weather events, leading to greater destruction and more significant economic costs.
Adding to the challenges posed by geography and human development is the impact of climate change. The head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warns that we can expect more extreme weather events in the future.
The range of extreme weather events that the U.S. experiences is vast, including tornadoes, hurricanes, flash floods, droughts, wildfires, blizzards, ice storms, nor'easters, lake-effect snow, heat waves, severe thunderstorms, hail, lightning, atmospheric rivers, derechos, dust storms, monsoons, bomb cyclones, and the dreaded polar vortex.
According to North Carolina state climatologist Kathie Dello, the country's location on the globe is a significant factor in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. She notes that the U.S. is "truly a little bit...unlucky" in this regard.
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