Expert: State Will Feel Effect Of Climate Change

Some scientists believe that global warming will actually reduce the number of hurricanes in the future.  But according to Oklahoma experts, it could have a devastating effect on our weather and water supply. The News On 6's Chris Wright reports while the Climatological Society admits there are plenty of climate change skeptics in the Sooner state, it claims to have focused on the science, and not the politics, that accompany this issue.

So, according to its experts, if things do not change here, our future looks pretty bleak.

Gary McManus admits he isn't the most popular speaker in Oklahoma.  But, just as he has all across the state, he presented his Climatological Society's Outlook on Global Warming in the Sooner State, this time to the American Meteorological Society.

"The majority of the evidence and the majority of the research going on now points to a warming of our atmosphere that's occurred in the last 50 years," said Gary McManus.

He says the consensus among scientists is that the earth will continue to warm over the next century.

In Oklahoma, McManus says that will translate into longer, more sweltering summers.  According to him, it will also lead to more frequent, and more severe droughts, as well as intense severe weather.           

"The added heat would be more fuel for severe weather and that would really encompass the hail and the lightning," said Gary McManus.

These dire predictions have gotten the attention of local emergency management officials, many of whom say their job is already difficult enough.

"May give us some ideas, some things to look for in the future, some things to prepare for," said Kevin Bruce with Mayes County Emergency Management.

The Climatological Society believes it will be tough to prepare for the challenges that will come with climate change.  It says it cannot determine whether or not the phenomenon is responsible for recent events like December's ice storm.

But, not up for debate, says McManus, is that Oklahoma will not be immune from global warming.

"In the future, at least through 2100, the end of the century, Oklahoma can expect to warm up, just like the rest of the world," said Gary McManus.

The Climatological Society says drought will be our biggest concern in the future.  It says while global warming will mean more severe weather, whether or not it will mean more tornadoes is impossible to predict.