posted on 2025-10-17, 07:33authored byTimo Kelder, Dorothy Heinrich, Lisette Klok, Vikki Thompson, Henrique M. D. Goulart, Ed Hawkins, Louise J. Slater, Laura Suarez-Gutierrez, Robert WilbyRobert Wilby, Erin Coughlan de Perez, Elisabeth M. Stephens, Stephen Burt, Bart van den Hurk, Hylke de Vries, Karin van der Wiel, E. Lisa F. Schipper, Antonio Carmona Baéz, Ellen van Bueren, Erich M. Fischer
We see unprecedented weather causing widespread impacts across the world. In this perspective, we provide an overview of methods that help anticipate unprecedented weather hazards that can contribute to stop being surprised. We then discuss disaster management and climate adaptation practices, their gaps, and how the methods to anticipate unprecedented weather may help build resilience. We stimulate thinking about transformative adaptation as a foundation for long-term resilience to unprecedented weather, supported by incremental adaptation through upgrading existing infrastructure, and reactive adaptation through short-term early action and disaster response. Because in the end, we should take responsibility to build resilience rather than being surprised by unprecedented weather.<p></p>
Funding
NASA cooperative grant titled “Today’s Risk of Extreme Events” (agreement number 80NSSC22K1706)
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the US National Institutes of Health (Award Number P20ES036118)
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) via the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) under Grant number [22/CC/11103] at the Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water.
European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program within the project ‘XAIDA: Extreme Events – Artificial Intelligence for Detection and Attribution’ under grant agreement No 101003469
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