This year saw a number of notable wildfires, storms, and droughts ravage many regions around the world. As the year draws to an end and we look to 2019 for some relief, the National Climate Assessment, released in November and prepared across 13 federal agencies, isn’t reassuring: More frequent and intense events are on the horizon as the climate continues to warm. The report warns of further loss of life, substantial economic impact, and a transformation of current ecosystems so significant that “future generations can expect to experience and interact with the natural environment in ways that are different from today.” These photos illustrate this year’s most devastating natural disasters.

Drought, kindling-like dry vegetation, and strong…