Confronting Climate Extremes in the Southeast
Pam Knox an applied climatologist and meteorologist who has worked since 1983 in positions relating weather and climate to agriculture, industry, urban design, media outreach and education. Her current position is at the University of Georgia as a Senior Public Service Associate and as the Director of the Georgia Weather Network. As a Certified Consulting Meteorologist, Knox provides expert testimony on weather-related cases.
Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is an internationally recognized expert in weather, climate, and atmospheric sciences. He is an Associate Dean at the University of Georgia, Director of the Atmospheric Sciences Program and a former NASA-GSFC Research Meteorologist. A Fellow of the American Meteorological Society, Dr. Shepherd has received numerous honors, including the 2023 Environmental Law Institute Award and election to the National Academy of Sciences. He has published over 70 peer-reviewed papers and serves on several prestigious advisory boards.
As the Southeast confronts accelerating climate shifts, researchers like Pam Knox and Marshall Shepherd of the University of Georgia are helping translate scientific insight into practical resilience. Their discussion at the Super South Summit underscored the region’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather events, rising temperatures and shifting agricultural conditions—while also pointing to pathways for adaptation rooted in equity, innovation and local collaboration.
Extremes, Not Averages, Define the New Normal
While average temperatures are slowly rising, it is the extremes that matter most for lives and infrastructure. One panelist highlighted that Georgia’s climate has warmed notably since the 1970s, with faster increases in winter lows and nighttime temperatures. This has already extended growing seasons and added stress to energy systems, agriculture, and public health. More alarming than the steady rise, though, is the intensification of extremes.
Rainfall events are becoming more intense and frequent—days with over two inches of rain are expected to increase by 27%—while the dry periods between storms are also lengthening.
These back-to-back stressors are overwhelming stormwater systems in cities like Atlanta and Canton, which were built on outdated assumptions about weather patterns.
Hurricanes Are Stronger and Hitting Where Least Expected
Another panelist pointed to a new and troubling pattern in tropical storm behavior—rapid intensification and wider inland reach. Storms like Hurricane Michael and Idalia brought wind gusts over 100 mph and record rainfall well inland, challenging traditional coastal-centric planning. Areas like Tampa Bay, once considered low-risk for direct hurricane hits, are increasingly exposed. The risks are compounded by demographic shifts, as populations grow in vulnerable floodplains and coastal zones. The panel emphasized that the Southeast is now firmly on the front lines of tropical storm intensity, which demands rethinking disaster preparation far beyond the coast.
Vulnerability Is Unequally Distributed—and Must Shape Response
The panelists stressed that climate risk isn’t just a function of hazards but also of who is exposed and how vulnerable they are. Renters, residents in mobile homes, and people without reliable air conditioning are disproportionately impacted by extreme heat and storms. One speaker described how newer mapping tools and vulnerability indices are being used to identify high-risk communities and guide equitable adaptation planning. In the agricultural sector, Georgia’s farmers are already adapting to climate impacts. Warming winters are reducing peach yields due to fewer chill hours, while crops like citrus and olives are expanding. Simultaneously, livestock producers are grappling with heat-induced declines in productivity. These changes illustrate how climate is not just a distant future issue—it’s already altering daily life and business models across the region.
Resilience Requires Local Innovation, Policy Alignment and Trust
A panelist emphasized that resilience must move beyond rhetoric into structural and policy-level transformation. From urban tree ordinances and rubberized asphalt for heat mitigation to model developments like Rowan that integrate climate data from the outset, innovation is taking root across Georgia. Still, technological solutions must be paired with local engagement. The panelists stressed the importance of co-production—building trust and designing solutions with, not for, communities. Ongoing partnerships between universities, local governments and nonprofits are helping create context-specific, science-informed strategies for heat islands, invasive species, stormwater resilience, and more.
At the core of effective climate communication, the panel argued, is credibility. Avoiding exaggeration and focusing on the physics of climate change helps build trust, particularly in politically divided or skeptical regions. By grounding climate action in transparency, local data, and real-world examples, scientists can help policymakers, developers and citizens prepare for a future that is already arriving—faster and more fiercely than expected.
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