Key Facts Of The Day 10/28

Hurricanes

• A severe weather storm system in Texas is moving east and is expected to reach the coast by Halloween.
• The National Weather Service released flood advisories for parts of Orange, Volusia,
• and Seminole counties early Friday.
  • Early Friday morning storms flood streets in Orange County, Florida.
  • Data shows parts of Orange County received nearly 5 inches of rain over a few hours.
  • One car was stuck in the floodwaters and needed to be towed out.
• One month after Hurricane Ian, recovery and clean-up efforts continue across Florida and some areas might take years to rebuild.
  • The electrical grid at Sanibel Island has been “decimated,” and while there is running water, sewage systems are not operating optimally.
  • At least 127 people have died as a result of Hurricane Ian.

Wildfires

• As of Thursday, there are currently 25 large active wildfires that have burned 256,629 across ID, IN, KY, MT, OK, OR, and WA. As of Thursday, 59,441 wildfires have burned 7,210,454 acres across the country.
• In Oregon, 2 fires have burned 128,183 acres as of Thursday.
  • The Cedar Creek Fire has burned 127,283 acres and is 60% contained as of Thursday.
• In Washington, 10 fires have burned 40,857 acres as of Thursday.

Extreme Heat

• According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 84% of the country is in a drought status from abnormally dry to exceptional drought.
• Lake Mead’s water level sits at 1,046.40 feet, well below where it usually sits at this time of year.
  • The sixth set of skeletal remains was discovered in Lake Mead as water levels retreat to record lows.
• Nearly the entire stretch of the Mississippi River has experienced below-average rainfall over the past two months, causing water levels to drop to near-record lows.
  • The low water levels of the river have disrupted ship and barge traffic which is critical for moving recently harvested agricultural goods such as soybeans and corn downriver for export.
• Drought conditions this year may cost Nebraska corn, soybean, and wheat farmers nearly $2 billion.

New Reports and Data

• An October 2022 report found there was “no credible pathway to 1.5C in place” and that “woefully inadequate” progress on cutting carbon emissions means the only way to limit the worst impacts of the climate crisis is a “rapid transformation of societies.”
• An October 2022 report found that the Earth’s vital signs have worsened to the point that ‘humanity is unequivocally facing a climate emergency.’
• An October 2022 study found that higher exposure to a certain type of traffic-related air pollution called particulate matter may be linked to an increased risk of dementia.