The best hope lies in trying to identify the broader changes under way - for example with the retreat of the Arctic sea-ice or the cycle of warming in the Pacific Ocean with El Nino and La Nina.

BBC: Predicting the next big flood

It could change the frequency of the Pacific pattern known as El Nino, a cycle of peculiar weather that affects ocean currents and rainfall across the planet.

NPR: Pacific Island Cultures Brace for Climate Change

All parts of the country, especially the Midwest, Pacific Northwest and the South, are likely to produce some of the most interesting races this cycle.

CNN: What's at Stake: Overview