Key Facts Of The Day 07/26

Hurricanes

• Record rainfall triggered flash floods in parts of St. Louis and other areas of Missouri early Tuesday.
  • St.Louis’s daily rainfall record, set in August 1915, was broken in five hours.
  • Up to 10 inches of rain were reported in areas northwest of St. Louis.
  • Heavy rain had caused catastrophic flash flooding, with neighborhoods submerged, cars stranded, and portions of interstates 70, 64, and 55 closed.
  • There have been upward of 100 water rescues across the area.
  • In a residential area on the city’s western edge, rescuers used inflatable boats to reach homes where occupants were trapped, evacuating half a dozen people.
  • Residents in St. Charles County, in Missouri’s central eastern region, were told to stay home.
  • Flash flood warnings remained in effect for much of the region into early Tuesday afternoon.
• An Entergy representative said residents in Louisiana should be prepared to go without power for up to 21 days in the event a Category 4 storm hits the area and seven days for a Category 1 storm.

Wildfires

• As of Tuesday, there are currently 84 large active wildfires that have burned 3,071,353 across AK, AZ, CA, FL, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, TX, UT, and WY. As of Tuesday, 38,402 wildfires have burned 5,578,815 acres across the country.
• In Alaska, 60 fires have burned 2,618,257 acres as of Tuesday.
  • Alaska is experiencing unprecedented wildfires.
  • More than 530 wildfires have already burned an area the size of Connecticut, and the usual worst of the fire season lies ahead.
• In Arizona, 4 fires have burned 4,433 acres as of Tuesday.
• In California, 2 fires have burned 22,116 acres as of Tuesday.
  • The Oak Fire has burned 17,241 acres and is 16% contained as of Tuesday.
    • The fire has destroyed at least 55 structures, and more than 2,400 structures are still threatened.
    • Nearly 3,000 personnel are tackling the fire, deploying air and land efforts, including two dozen helicopters, 302 fire engines, and 82 bulldozers.
  • The Washburn Fire has burned 4,875 acres and is 87% contained as of Tuesday.
• In Florida, 1 fire has burned 1,200 acres as of Tuesday.
• In Hawaii, 1 fire has burned 2,368 acres as of Tuesday.
• In Idaho, 3 fires have burned 34,434 acres as of Tuesday.
• In Montana, 2 fires have burned 984 acres as of Tuesday.
• In Nevada, 3 fires have burned 7,997 acres as of Tuesday.
• In New Mexico, 2 fires have burned 344,435 acres as of Tuesday.
  • The Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire has burned 341,735 acres and is 93% contained as of Tuesday.
• In South Dakota, 1 fire has burned 12,636 acres as of Tuesday.
• In Texas, 3 fires have burned 7,599 acres as of Tuesday.
• In Utah, 1 fire has burned 11,701 acres as of Tuesday.
• In Wyoming, 1 fire has burned 3,193 acres as of Tuesday.

Extreme Heat

• As of Tuesday, the Pacific Northwest is bracing for a major heat wave.
  • This week, temperatures in Washington and Oregon are forecast to be 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Wide swaths of western Oregon and Washington are predicted to be well above historic averages throughout the week.
  • The National Weather Service (NWS) issued an excessive heat warning from the Portland metro area down to Salem and through the Columbia Gorge on both the Washington and Oregon sides.
  • The NWS forecasts temperatures to top 110 degrees in southeastern Washington and northwestern Oregon parts later in the week, potentially breaking records.
  • Portland officials are opening cooling centers in public buildings and installing misting stations in parks. 
  • Garbage trucks may start their rounds as early as 4 a.m. this week to allow drivers to work in the early morning, reducing exposure to heat and health risks.
  • At least a dozen libraries are extending hours, staying open until 8 p.m. to allow people more time to cool off. 
  • Multnomah County, which includes Portland, is opening four overnight emergency cooling shelters starting Tuesday, where vulnerable populations will be able to spend the night.
  • Climate change is fueling these extreme heat events in a region where they were historically uncommon. 
• The Northeast has already seen days where temperatures topped 100 degrees Fahrenheit in multiple places.
  • On Sunday, Philadelphia hit 99 degrees before taking into account humidity.
  • Newark, New Jersey, saw its fifth consecutive day of 100 degrees or higher, the longest such streak since records began in 1931. 
  • Boston also hit 100 degrees, surpassing the previous daily high of 98 degrees in 1933.
  • At least two heat-related deaths were reported in the Northeast.

New Reports And Data

• A July 2022 study found that extreme heat exposure worsens child malnutrition.
• A July 2022 study found that environmental injustice is key to decoding the climate change debate.