An online mapping tool recording extreme weather events in the USA has revealed almost 3,000 monthly weather records being broken.

The interactive site at www.nrdc.org enables users to draw connections between climate change and extreme weather in the areas in which they live.

It has been drawn up by the Natural Resources Defence Council, an international nonprofit environmental organisation with more than 1.3 million members and online activists.

Astonishingly, in the last year alone, 1,302 heat-related records, 1,090 rainfall records and 549 snowfall records were broken. Damage caused by the unparalleled weather extremes of 2011 has cost an estimated $53 billion.

Kim Knowlton, NRDC’s senior scientist, said: "From heat waves to floods to fires, 2011 was a year of extreme weather for communities throughout the United States.

"This alarming, yet illuminating data is indicative of what we can expect as climate change continues. Actions can be taken today to limit the worst effects of climate change. Our leaders need to make climate change preparedness a priority, if these events will be occurring more frequently and with more intensity."

Here in the UK we’re perhaps lucky to avoid such devastating extremes but, with an independent study by The Berkeley Earth Project proving that global warming is a reality, it can never be too late to adopt as many energy saving measures as possible; from switching off lights and electrical appliances when they are not in use and turning down our thermostats a notch or two, to the bigger issues, such as considering alternative and renewable forms of energy.

And if you don’t have an electric car yet, just use your bicycle a little more; but perhaps not when it’s windy or wet.

[NASA Goddard Photo and Video]