US Climate Extremes 2026
Drought, Wildfire & Heat Records Redefine America
Megadrought: 22 Years and Counting
The American Southwest is gripped by its worst megadrought in 1,200 years.
Wildfire Season Now Year-Round
U.S. wildfires burned over 7 million acres in 2024 — the 5th-worst year on record.
Heat: America's Deadliest Disaster
Extreme heat kills more Americans than hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes combined — over 1,300 deaths per year. Phoenix hit 120°F in 2024.
Rivers Running Dry
The Colorado, Rio Grande, and Arkansas rivers all hit record lows in recent years. The Rio Grande ran dry in Albuquerque for the first time in decades.
Food Security at Risk
Drought in 2023-2024 cost U.S. farmers over $21 billion — with Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska hardest hit.
Federal Response: IRA and IIJA
The Inflation Reduction Act ($369B for climate) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ($50B for water) represent the largest U.S.
Building Climate Resilience
• Support renewable energy transition in your state • Advocate for drought-resilient agriculture • Reduce your carbon footprint — every ton matters • Prepare your home and community for extreme heat • Stay informed at sustainabilityawakening.com
Reservoirs at Historic Lows
Decades of drought have pushed major US reservoirs to critically low levels, reshaping water rights and policy across the West.
Bureau of Reclamation Acts
Historic Tier 2 water cuts slash Arizona allocations by 21%, forcing farmers to fallow millions of acres and cities to accelerate conservation.
Farms Bear the Brunt
Farming consumes 70–80% of Colorado River water. As cuts deepen, growers idle land, switch crops, and sell water rights at record prices.