Key Facts Of The Day 07/07

Hurricanes

• On Tuesday, a derecho turns sky green and sweeps through 5 states with 90 MPH winds.
  • Winds gusted as high as 96 MPH in Huron, South Dakota, 91 MPH in Agar, South Dakota, and 99 MPH in Miner, South Dakota.
  • In Dewey County, South Dakota softball-sized hail accompanied winds gusting to 84 MPH.
  • The National Weather Service received reports of broken windows, and a machine shed and grain bins destroyed.
  • The winds knocked down power lines and trees, some falling onto homes and vehicles.
  • Tens of thousands of utility customers lost power.
  • While green skies are sometimes byproducts of thunderstorms, few meteorologists could remember having seen skies reflect that peculiar hue of neon green.
• The flooding in Yellowstone reveals forecast flaws as climate warms.
  • Hydrologic models used to predict flooding are based on long-term, historical records, but they do not reflect changes to the climate that emerged over the past decade.
  • The surprise Yellowstone floods prompted a nighttime scramble to close off roads and bridges getting swept away by the water, plus rushed evacuations that missed some people.
  • To better communicate the potential for extreme weather, some experts say the weather service needs to change its forecasts to inform the public about low-probability hazardous events.

Wildfires

• As of Thursday, there are currently 57 large active wildfires that have burned 2,714,852 across AK, AZ, CA, NV, NM, NC, TX, WA, and WY. As of Thursday, 35,064 wildfires have burned 4,659,854 acres across the country.
• In Alaska, 44 fires have burned 2,005,404 acres as of Thursday.
  • An unusual number of lightning strikes has ignited more than 50 new wildfires in Alaska, worsening air quality, spurring communities to prepare to evacuate, and exacerbating an already historic fire season in the state.
  • Wildfire smoke has worsened air quality over the central and eastern interior and the western Yukon territory.
  • On Tuesday, communities in Anderson, Clear and Clear Space Force Station were advised to prepare a “go bag.”
  • The National Weather Service office in Fairbanks has issued a red-flag warning for fire weather across much of the state’s interior.
• In Arizona, 2 fires have burned 27,155 acres as of Thursday.
• In California, 2 fires have burned 5,016 acres as of Thursday.
• In Nevada, 1 fire has burned 1,966 acres as of Thursday.
• In New Mexico, 2 fires have burned 666,871 acres as of Thursday.
  • The Black Fire has burned 325,136 acres and is 70% contained as of Thursday.
  • The Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire has burned 341,735 acres and is 93% contained as of Thursday.
• In North Carolina, 1 fire has burned 1,938 acres as of Thursday.
• In Texas, 3 fires have burned 4,600 acres as of Thursday.
• In Washington, 1 fire has burned 1,800 acres as of Thursday.
• In Wyoming, 1 fire has burned 102 acres as of Thursday.

Extreme Heat

• On Thursday, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued an excessive heat warning for several states, including Mississippi, Kentucky, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Louisiana.
  • The NWS also issued a heat advisory for Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
  • South Carolina, Georgia, and Missouri are expected to reach 105 degrees.
  • Kansas is expected to reach 108 degrees.
  • Oklahoma, Texas, and North Carolina are expected to reach 109 degrees.
  • Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas are expected to reach 110 degrees.
  • Kentucky is expected to reach 112 degrees.
• Yesterday, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation that will provide $1.2 billion over three years to boost long-term water supplies for the desert state and implement conservation efforts that will see more immediate effects.
  • Arizona faces cutbacks in its Colorado River water supply due to the megadrought.
  • $200 million is for conservation, which can be used right away for both agricultural efficiency and to cut water use in urban areas.
• Texas drought burns up the corn crop and has ranchers selling off cattle.

New Reports And Data

• A July 2022 study found that Arctic temperatures are increasing four times faster than global warming.
• A July 2022 study found that climate warming could deepen environmental injustice in urban areas.