Sacramento Might Feel More Like Bakersfield By 2080

In six decades, you might wake up in Sacramento and feel like you're living in Bakersfield.

And other cities such as Reno could be as hot as southern Utah.  

That will be the reality if emissions continue at their current rates, says Matt Fitzpatrick with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. His latest study shows how climate change could alter U.S. cities and includes an interactive digital portal to see how your community might be impacted.  

“In general, we see cities moving to the south or southeast in terms of their climate. So, generally becoming warmer and drier by the 2080s," Fitzpatrick said.

The researchers analyzed the similarities between current and future climate conditions, including visualizations that show how climate will change if emissions are mitigated and if nothing is done.

"We expect a dramatic transformation of climate over the next several decades," he said. "Some of these changes are already underway. Right, there's lots of extreme weather events."

Perhaps the most surprising: By 2080, Los Angeles could feel most like today's climate at the Southern tip of Baja California.

As for Bakersfield? It would feel more like Yuma, Arizona.

Here's how some other cities could feel if emissions don’t change:

• Redding's climate in 2080 will feel most like today's climate near Santa Isabel, Mexico.
• San Francisco's climate in 2080 will feel most like today's climate near Palos Verdes Estates, California.
• Placerville's climate in 2080 will feel most like today's climate near Redding.
• San Jose's climate in 2080 will feel most like today's climate near Glendale.
• Fresno's climate in 2080 will feel most like today's climate near Progreso, Mexico.
• Las Vegas's climate in 2080 will feel most like today's climate near Bullhead City, Arizona.