Next decade's weather forecast: BAD

Summer this year in New York has seen several weeks of downpours and continuous heat and humidity, and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said you ain't seen nothin' yet.

The EPA released its climate change report last month and noted that continued global warming could likely increase the frequency and intensity of heat waves and heavy storms; severe frequent droughts in big areas; intense hurricane wind speeds; and increases in the occurrence of coastal and river flooding.

Here are some of the likely scenarios that the EPA found:

• It is very likely that heat-related morbidity and mortality will increase over the coming decades.

• The impact of higher temperatures in urban areas can exacerbate cardiovascular and pulmonary illness if current regulatory standards are not attained.

• Hurricanes, extreme precipitation resulting in floods, and wildfires also have the potential to affect public health through direct and indirect health risks.

• Likely increase in the spread of several food and water-borne pathogens among susceptible populations.

But maybe we shouldn't worry too much as according to the report, the US is certainly capable of adapting to the collective impacts of climate change.

I'm sure that's very reassuring but just in case I should start stockpiling some emergency necessities....