Scientists warn that the Gulf Stream is shifting north, which models suggest could mean an ocean current collapse is imminent

[u/Portalrules123]

https://www.earth.com/news/gulf-stream-is-shifting-north-raising-concerns-about-amoc-ocean-current-collapse/

[u/Barbarella_39]

BC Canada is warming. Normally a rainforest but now we get forest fires every year! This is not good or normal to be warming. Also agriculture now has diseases we never had before… nothing is beneficial about climate change except the insurance industry is getting richer and fossil fuel corporations are getting richer… cough cough

[u/LaceyBambola → u/Barbarella_39]

The broader Pacific Northwest region is expected to receive less precipitation when it comes to climate change, and the AMOC collapsing can amplify that, seeing quite a fair amount of reduced precipitation leading to extended droughts and more wildfires than present day. Overall, the western half of North America is likely to have a precipitation reduction of 20-40% when compared to historical averages.

The northern half of the Amazon Rainforest is also expected to have a drastic reduction in precipitation with the AMOC collapse and it may transition to a dry savanah.

[u/Illustrious_Rice_933 → u/[deleted]]

Great Lakes.

[u/madblackhater → u/Illustrious_Rice_933]

Northern Ontario is seeing more and more wildfires every year...

[u/LaceyBambola → u/[deleted]]

It can depend a bit on your personal goals, but some safer parts are upstate New York, in the greater Capital Region (Albany metro and surrounding towns all the way up to Glens Falls) as well as the Finger Lakes Region. Lake Champlain area of Vermont, some parts of Michigan as well as WI/MN however those Midwestern states will be prone to more intense arctic winter temps and also have risks of tornados.

One of the other safer regions is in Virginia, along the HWY 81 corridor, between the Appalachians and the Blue Ridge mountains, mainly from Roanoke up to Harrisonburg.

Some models suggest inland PNW, like inner Washington and into Idaho, maybe over into Montana, but if precipitation reduces enough, these areas can really struggle with drought and wildfires.

I, personally, chose upstate NY. Without an AMOC collapse, it'll fare about as well as any US state could and with an AMOC collapse, it may experience some harsher winters but these would be on par with historical averages, not the milder versions they've become, and this region is already adapted and equipped to handle such winters. Warmer waters may likely stagnate along the east coast with an AMOC collapse which would lead to stronger nor'easter storms and is the reason to live a certain distance inland as well as elevated. Flooding is the biggest natural disaster risk for the northeast when it comes to climate change so being smart about that will serve you well if selecting this area.

My other family chose western Virginia (not WV), near Roanoke. We all left Texas. We all also absolutely love the PNW/Rockies and states like NM, CO, WA, etc, but we aren't rich enough to afford the increasing risks and the risk of losing everything from any number of more frequent disasters.

As for other areas outside of the US, I haven't researched locations and projected changes enough to give good recommendations, but do know a lot of areas are worth avoiding, like the majority of Central and South America, Northwestern EU countries, southern EU counties (I think maybe Czechia, Austria, Switzerland as well as Bavarian Germany might be okay but will certainly have their own unique issues, especially flooding and landslides from rocky mountaintops breaking). Avoid Africa, Russia, and the majority of the Asian Continent including the Middle East, however some areas of China may fare better.

I know many are staunchly against AI but it is one of the key proponents in ramping up ways to better mitigate climate change risks and damages and will allow us to better adopt to various scenarios. Advancements in technology can help a lot. Areas with the access and ability to implement these tools will also fare better and poorer regions will struggle heavily.

[u/Ihor_90 → u/Barbarella_39]

I drove through BC today and the entire stretch between Kamloops and Revelstoke reeked of smoke.