Freshwater plays a key role in North Atlantic climate variability, weather extremes and abrupt climate changes in the past. Yet, future risks arising from freshwater remain difficult to assess due to the complexity of the involved ice, ocean and atmospheric dynamics and the interference of signals on different timescales.

Combining observations and models, I will demonstrate the drivers and feedbacks of North Atlantic freshwater events and their implication for the long-term distribution of weather extremes. I will also present an atmospheric teleconnection from the North Atlantic back to the Arctic and discuss the risk of a more profound change in North Atlantic climate variability.