The World Meteorological Organization recently released their Global Climate Report:  Decade of Extremes ( pdf alert:  http://library.wmo.int/pmb_ged… and video at http://youtu.be/qSz7U0C0bsY ) looking at general weather patterns decade by decade from 1881 to 2010.

“…it is worth noting the very large increase (more than 2 000 per cent) in the loss of life from heatwaves, particularly during the unprecedented extreme heat events that affected Europe in the summer of 2003 and the Russian Federation in the summer of 2010. On the other hand, there were fewer deaths due to storms and floods in 2001-2010 compared to 1991-2000, with decreases of 16 per cent and 43 per cent, respectively, thanks, in good part, to better early warning systems and increased preparedness.”

2,300% increase in casualties from heatwaves

189% increase from cold snaps

in the 2001 to 2010 decade.