Rainfall and extreme weather patterns are changing

Globally, in the past 50 years, there have been fewer cold days and nights and more hot days, hot nights and heatwaves.

Heavy rainfall events have increased in frequency over most areas.

Since 1900, precipitation has increased significantly over eastern parts of the Americas, northern Europe, parts of Asia and north-west Australia.

Reduced precipitation has occurred in central and southern Africa, the Mediterranean and parts of southern Asia.

Since 1950, eastern and south-western Australia have become significantly drier.

These long-term global climate trends are occurring alongside normal weather variations that happen naturally over seasons or decades.

The interaction of short-term and long-term variations can either reduce or worsen the impacts, making it more difficult to pinpoint the causes of local temperature changes or specific weather events.