Temperature changes over the past 22 years (1991-2012) compared to the 1901-1960 average, and compared to the 1951-1980 average for Alaska and Hawai‘i. NOAA NCDC / CICS-NC.

This map is the simplest way to see global warming in action. Since the 19th century, average US temperatures have risen by 1.3°F to 1.9°F. (Note, though, there have been some fluctuations here and there: in the 1960s and 1970s, temperatures dipped, partly due to the cooling effect of sulfate pollution that was eventually cleaned up.)

Recent decades have been even hotter: since 1991, every region in the United States has been warming, with the biggest temperature increases occurring in the winter and spring.

Percent increases in the amount of precipitation falling in very heavy events (defined as the heaviest 1% of all daily events) from 1958 to 2012 for each region of the continental United States. Source: Karl et al. 2009.

As the atmosphere heats up, it can hold more water vapor. That, in turn, can lead to heavier precipitation — although this varies region by region.

Since the 1950s, the amount of rain or snow falling in heavy storms has increased in the Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, Great Plains, and Alaska — more than can be explained by natural variation. (It’s less clear that there’s a significant trend in the Southwest, Northwest, or Hawaii.)

By the way, this is just heavy precipitation — the report doesn’t find any trend in the United States for a few other severe weather events, including tornadoes or hurricanes or even floods.

Click here to get the rest of the report. Seven more graphics illustrating portions of the environmental disaster that conservatives and corporate flunkies tell you doesn’t exist.

Thanks, Mike