climate

Whichcities will be hard-hit byclimatechange?

The new National Climate Assessment released Tuesday  didn't rankcities bywhich would be hit hardest, but here's alook at some communities that could be hard-hit by one aspect ofclimatechange or another. Heavyprecipitation,flooding -- Burlington, Vt.; Hartford, Conn.; and Providence, R.I. Quick outbursts ofrain andsnow, or "extremeprecipitation,"have increased bymore than 70% in thepast sixdecades in the northeastern U.S.,according to the National Climate Assessment. This is the highestpercentage increase of anylocation in the country. Ferociousrainmakers like 2011's Hurricane Irene ― one of thetop weather disasters in Vermont'shistory ―havebecome thesignature ofclimatechange in New England and the Northeast, afflictingoldercities and towns built at atime ofmoremodestrainfall.