Climate Impact Report – 1/10

Quick Facts

Storm Damage

As of Tuesday morning, the atmospheric river storm continued to move across California and has already forced thousands to evacuate, prompted dozens of water rescues, swept away vehicles, and caused widespread damage.

Hottest Years

The world’s eight hottest years on record have occurred since 2014.

$165 Billion

An updated January 2023 report found that the U.S. endured 18 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters that resulted in at least $165 billion in damages and 474 deaths in 2022.

Key Facts Of The Day 1/10

Storms and Flooding

  • As of Tuesday morning, the atmospheric river storm continued to move across California and has already forced thousands to evacuate, prompted dozens of water rescues, swept away vehicles, and caused widespread damage.
    • As of Tuesday morning, more than 11 million people in western Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties in California were under a flood warning.
    • As of Tuesday morning, about 34 million people across California were under flood watches as the risk of mudslides also shifted to the Los Angeles and San Diego areas.
    • As of Tuesday morning, more than 200,000 residents were without power after high wind speeds sent trees crashing into power lines.
    • The mountainous areas of Southern California received more than a foot of rain from Sunday to early Tuesday, particularly along the Ventura and Santa Barbara County mountains.
      • On Monday, California officials evacuated the entire town of Montecito near Santa Barbara amid fears that heavy rains might trigger a deadly avalanche on a wildfire burn scar.
    • In Santa Clara County, about 32,000 people were under evacuation orders Monday afternoon, and more could be asked to leave Tuesday.
    • School districts across the state closed as roads transformed into rivers riddled with debris.
    • In Los Angeles, four people escaped after a sinkhole swallowed two cars on Monday night. Another sinkhole in Santa Barbara caused a road closure impacting 500 homes.
    • At least 14 Californians have died from “storm-related impacts” such as flooding since late December.
    • President Biden issued an emergency declaration on Monday to bring federal support to relief efforts in more than a dozen counties.

Wildfire

  • As of January 6, 2023, there are currently 0 large active wildfires that have burned 0 acres. As of January 9, 2023, 78 wildfires have burned 549 acres across the country.

Extreme Heat

  • Record rainfalls in California and early season snowpack in Colorado will ease the West’s short-term drought status but offer little respite to the shrunken Colorado River.
  • The world’s eight hottest years on record have occurred since 2014.
    • 2022 was the world’s fifth hottest year on record.
    • Overall, the world is now 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.1 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter than in the second half of the 19th century.
  • As Puget Sound continues to warm, fish parasites are declining by nearly 11% each decade which could be a problem for marine ecosystems.

New Reports and Data

  • An updated January 2023 report found that the U.S. endured 18 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters that resulted in at least $165 billion in damages and 474 deaths in 2022.
  • A January 2023 study found that including climate impact labels on a sample fast food menu influenced participants’ food choices in favor of more climate-friendly items.
  • A January 2023 study found that climate change will slow down deep overturning ocean circulation in the coming centuries, causing disaster to the marine ecosystem on a large portion of the planet.

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