Nineteen countries have signed the Paris Climate Agreement, which enumerates goals and steps to reduce climate change and mitigate its effect on the world as a whole. The effects of climate change can be seen in changes in storm activity, temperature variations, snowfall and ice melt. One result is the seesaw effect of areas suffering droughts and then sustain floods, which impacts agriculture, water management, storm preparedness, and other areas.

The below chart highlights recent variations various states have experienced.

High temperatures are also an issue; eleven of the twelve hottest years on record have occurred since 2003. Combine high heat with decreased rainfall, and droughts are a serious problem. Increased heat and drought increases the possibility of significant wildfires. Subsequent significant rainfall or snowmelt then leads to flooding and also overwhelms dams, spillways and levees, which are facing floods much more frequently than they were designed to do. These types of fluctuations make it more difficult to estimate how high to build a dike or damn, as past observations are no longer good indicators of what the weather will bring in the future.

Extremes between droughts and flooding are the most dangerous aspects of global warming, and it can lead to food and water shortages, leading to conflict. In 2015 a number of states in drought conditions were restricting water usage of residents, and theft of water became an issue to where fines were being levied against those caught stealing water from public resources such as canals and fire station tanks. Irrigating crops became a serious issue. In a July 2015 reports, the U.S. Department of Defense considers floods, droughts and high temperatures as climate-related security risks. So far this year there have been nine billion-dollar weather and climate related disasters, including two floods and a freeze that brought the total to near-record levels according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. As the temperatures rise, droughts become more frequent and extreme. The speed of these fluctuations makes it almost impossible to adapt to these changing conditions.

Even though California had record snowpack and rainfall this year, three significant wildfires are ongoing, one of which are out of control. The start of fire season was delayed, but it is severe. California is currently facing record high temperatures. Residents have been evacuated from many areas and an emergency proclamation was made for northern Butte County in California after critical infrastructure was damaged. Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana have all been battling wildfires in the recent weeks.