Tornadoes and hurricanes are two of the most violent and damaging storms.

In a matter of minutes, they destroy lives, demolish homes and scar the landscape. The scenes of devastation are repeated year after year.

Take a look back at some of the most recent severe storms and how they're changing.

Severe weather can happen anywhere, any time -- even if you're not in an area prone to hurricanes and tornadoes.

From searing heat to storms that can pack a punch, take a look at how "typical weather" is changing.

Snow is a vital element of the ecosystem and economy, but average winter temperatures are creeping up due to warming from heat-trapping pollutants, scientists say.

That means North American ski areas could see a 50% decline in days that are favorable enough to make snow by the middle of the century, according to a new study from the University of New Hampshire

Surging water and waves from powerful storms can leave coastal areas battered.

Experts say sea level rise is elevating that impact -- even during daily high tides, and they're predicting a dire scenario over the next few decades.

GO DEEPER: See the full investigative report

Wildfires may be most visible on the West Coast, but each year, they're burning in different sizes and severity in every state in the nation.

While the overall number of wildfires fluctuates, the number of acres burned across the U.S. has been steadily growing over nearly four decades. The marks these fires leave go far beyond the property in their paths.

For many people, their most common interaction with the science of weather comes through the meteorologists on their favorite TV stations.

In all, more than 100 weather experts across the country work every day at Hearst Television stations to keep communities informed and safe.

Just like the once-a-decade U.S. census that goes door to door, the forest census goes trunk to trunk and bark to bark, measuring a portion of trees on 171,000 plots across the country, whose precise locations are kept secret.

Measurement by measurement, from below and above, the Forest Inventory and Analysis crew is on the vanguard of tracking how a changing climate - from intensifying drought to hotter temperatures to more ferocious wildfires - is affecting a crucial part of Earth's ecosystem.

A lot of us think "going green" means spending a lot of money. But that's not always the case! It might mean paying more upfront, but there are eco-friendly products out there that save you money in the long run.

If you swap something you use every day with something more sustainable, you could help save the environment and save yourself some cash.

Learn more about the products here.

Several states and the federal government are focusing on how to get ahead of the changes with the environment and the fallout from severe weather.

A United Nations climate panel recently said it's "now or never" to get a handle on warming and the damaging results. Experts say it needs to be a collective effort.