Key Facts Of The Day 10/24

Hurricanes

• Heavy rain and severe storms are expected to sweep through the southern U.S.
  • The same powerful storm that brought a wave of snow across the Rockies this past weekend is expected to emerge in the Plains on Monday.
  • Some locations from Oklahoma and northeastern Texas to eastern Missouri could see more like 1-2 inches of rain into Tuesday.
  • Meteorologists warn that localized flooding is possible in some areas.
• After blossoming throughout the weekend into a strong Category 3 hurricane, Roslyn made landfall in Mexico Sunday morning, resulting in at least two deaths.
  • As the week progresses, forecasters say some of the storm’s lingering moisture may be pulled into the south-central U.S., spreading heavy rain across much of the country.
• Nearly a month after Hurricane Ian’s disastrous hit to the county, Lee County officials announced they have reached a significant milestone of collecting 1 million cubic yards of debris.
• After Hurricane Ian inflicted billions of dollars in damage, undocumented workers went to Florida to help rebuild, joining tens of thousands of others who were already there — and who construction managers say are sorely needed.
• Since Hurricane Fiona hit the island on Sept. 18, FEMA has approved disaster aid for over 645,000 individuals and households.
  • All of Puerto Rico’s 3.3 million people are eligible for FEMA aid.

Wildfires

• As of Friday, there are currently 30 large active wildfires that have burned 534,352 across CA, ID, IN, KY, MT, OK, OR, TN, TX, and WA. As of Friday, 56,856 wildfires have burned 7,026,251 acres across the country.
• In California, 1 fire has burned 76,788 acres as of Friday.
  • The Mosquito Fire has burned 76,788 acres and is 95% contained as of Friday.
• In Oregon,3 fires have burned 298,778 acres as of Friday.
  • The Cedar Creek Fire has burned 126,690 acres and is 55% contained as of Friday.
• In Texas, 1 fire has burned 483 acres as of Friday.
• In Washington, 14 fires have burned 53,564 acres as of Friday.
• More than half the large wildfires that occurred around the world from 2003 to 2020 were followed by days or even weeks of increased dust emissions.
  • Dust storms can have adverse effects on human health, trigger algae blooms, degrade natural landscapes and agricultural zones and even alter local weather patterns.

Extreme Heat

• The U.S. drought monitor declared 60% of the country to be in a designated drought zone last Thursday, with 34% in a severe or deepening drought.
• Many trees in Texas are already leafless due to ongoing drought.
• Besides slowing barge traffic, the low water levels are raising concerns that saltwater intrusions in the Lower Mississippi could affect water supplies.
  • Normally, the river’s flow prevents saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico from moving very far upriver, but the river is so low that a wedge of saltwater has crept northward and threatens intakes used for freshwater supplies.
• West Tennessee farmers struggle to get crops to market as drought drains the Mississippi River.
  • While drought strangles transportation on the Mississippi, many farmers are now forced to leave crops in the field.
  • About 60% of all U.S. grain exports flow down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico for overseas export.

New Reports and Data

• An October 2022 study found that more than half the large wildfires that occurred around the world from 2003 to 2020 were followed by days or even weeks of increased dust emissions.
• An October 2022 study found evidence that marine conservation mitigates climate change.
• An October 2022 study found that ranger numbers and protected area workforce must increase fivefold to safeguard 30% of the planet’s wild lands by 2030.