Extreme Natural Events

Extreme natural events, including prolonged heat waves and severe winter weather, pose significant risks to the Western Interconnection's reliable electric system, driven by climate change and fundamental physical forces on both Earth and in space. Drought, heat events, aridification, and increased wildfire activity challenge the planning and operation of the system in the West. While changes in climate are experienced across the continent, the changes associated with aridification are particular to and highly concentrated in the West.