One of the key predicted effects of climate change is the increase in extreme weather events, such as extreme rain falls and extreme droughts. You could think of this as having a bit of a lead foot on the weather accelerator. This NY Times article highlights how such changes may have contributed (not cause mind you, simply contributed) to our flooding.
At a scientific discussion group on global warming, the guest speaker made the statement that if current models are at least somewhat accurate, then in about ten years the effects of climate change should move far enough away from the noise that its fingerprint would no longer be very controversial. Unfortunately for us, that might mean a millennial flood becomes a century flood and this year's suffocating record heat may have to be suffered through more frequently.
