WASHINGTON: A new scientific report released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that climate change was a factor, however small or large, in 24 of 30 strange weather events. 

They include 11 cases of high heat, as well as unusual winter sunshine in the United Kingdom, Alaskan wildfires and odd "sunny day" flooding in Miami. The study documented climate change-goosed weather in Alaska, Washington state, the southeastern United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, China, Japan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the western north Pacific cyclone region, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Ethiopia and southern Africa.

The report also found that an increase in tropical cyclone activity and strength in the western Pacific can be blamed partly on climate change and partly on El Nino, the now-gone natural weather phenomenon. But similar storm strengthening, hasn't increased noticeably around the United States yet, said study co-editor Martin Hoerling, a NOAA scientist. The report was published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Using accepted scientific techniques, 116 scientists from around the world calculated whether the odds of the extreme weather events were increased by global warming. They based their calculations on observed data, understanding of the physics of the climate and computer simulations, techniques that the National Academy of Sciences said were valid earlier this year. - AP

Three strange weather events that occurred in the world in 2016

1- Snowfall in Saudi Arabia: The desert country received its first snowfall in years. The snowfall came after temperatures dropped below 0 °C (32 °F) in central and northwestern regions of the country, which tend to see daily high temperatures of around 20 °C (68 °F), even in November. While it snowed on November 23, by November 29, the weather had taken a beating and it rained very heavily causing widespread flood and destruction. In January 2016, snow was reported in the area between Mecca and Medina for the first time in 85 years.

2- El Nino ends, La Nina begins: The latest El Nino weather phenomenon, which was one of the most powerful on record, has ended but could be replaced by its stormy sister La Nina in the coming months, a report by the U.N. meteorological agency said. El Nino affects rainfall patterns and causes both drought and flooding. The La Nina event may develop in the third quarter of this year, but it is likely to be weak. 

3- 2016 Arctic Report Card shows grim evaluation: While the Arctic has seen profound changes over the years, this year has by far the warmest for it. Changes that have been driven largely by manmade climate change. Sea ice has thinned and shrunk and the Greenland ice sheet has lost ice. The Arctic has continued to warm at twice the rate of the planet as a whole, and 2016 reinforced that trend. The annual average temperature (from October 2015 to September 2016) was 3.5° Fahrenheit (2°Celsius) above the 1981-2010 average, the highest in records that go back to 1900. Since that time, the Arctic has warmed 6.3° Fahrenheit (3.5° Celsius).

From being the warmest year, to seeing rise in number of wildfires, floods, melting ice, droughts, cyclones and typhoons, 2016 has seen it all. While the countries worked towards ratifying the Paris Accord, and make a move towards lessening greenhouse gas emissions, nature showed that unless you take care of it, it shall wreak havoc. Clearly evident in the recent cyclone Vardah that rattled Chennai, uprooting a major chunk of its green cover. Where is it that we are going wrong? Are these agreements and measures just for the heck of it? Pollution is at its peak in most countries. From India to China, even Paris is suffering a major pollution setback. Isn't it time for a wake up call for everyone? 

Tell us in the comments below, how do you foresee climate change in 2017? Will it better or worse?