Recent decades have brought record temperatures, devastating storms, and killer waves, which have in turn spurred widespread curiosity about how such weather systems develop. Organized by weather event -- including hurricanes, winter storms, lightning, tornadoes, floods, heat waves, and more -- Extreme Weather takes an eye-popping look at exactly how meteorological systems work and evenhandedly discusses the impact human activity has had in altering both weather and climate. H. Michael Mogil presents the results of his 35 years of meteorological research in a comprehensive overview of extreme weather systems, noting historical trends as well as what to expect in the future. He also explains how many events occur because the earth's environment self-regulates, while others may be influenced by such factors as rising temperatures in cities, deforestation, and population increases. Hundreds of color photographs, detailed charts and graphs, and fascinating sidebars make Extreme Weather essential reading for anyone interested in the physical forces that shape our planet.