Climate influences the features of the landscape, what farmers can grow, where people live, and the type of houses they build. But what happens when the climate changes abruptly and dramatically, not as part of a natural process of change but because of human activity? The result is more frequent and stronger extreme weather events such as heat waves, storms, torrential rain, raging winds, and hurricanes. This fascinating book uses case studies to explore the causes and effects of catastrophic weather and asks the question: Are we prepared to adapt our lifestyles to prevent climate change from spiraling out of control?