Climate Impact Report – 10/3

Quick Facts

After an abnormally warm September in the southern Plains and Texas, the region will have to endure severe thunderstorms and flooding risks.
The type of storm seen on Friday in New York is now 10-20% wetter than it would have been in the previous century because of climate change.
Twenty-eight people were rescued in a historic storm that brought major flooding in New York City.

As of Monday, 29 large active wildfires have burned 254,112 acres across 11 states: AZ, CA, CO, ID, LA, MS, MT, OR, TX, UT, and WA. This year to date, 45,192 wildfires have burned 2,467,748 acres across the country.
In Arizona, 3 fires have burned 13,183 acres as of Monday.
In California, 1 fire has burned 49,436 acres as of Monday.
In Colorado, 2 fires have burned 8,651 as of Monday.
In Louisiana, 2 fires have burned 38,414 acres as of Monday.
In Oregon, 12 fires have burned 127,075 acres as of Monday.
In Washington, 3 fires have burned 5,240 acres as of Monday.

Maricopa County public health data shows that as of Sept. 23, there were 295 heat-associated deaths confirmed, with 298 still under investigation for causes associated with the heat.
Over the weekend, highs reached the 90s in at least 15 states from Arizona to Minnesota and approached the triple digits as far north as the Iowa-Nebraska border.
- The high hit 92 degrees in Minneapolis, compared to an average high of 66 degrees on Sunday.
  - Minneapolis has not logged a reading over 90 degrees during October in more than 150 years of observation.
- Eau Claire, Wisconsin, tied its October record high of 89 degrees.
- Dozens of more records are expected to fall from the Northern Plains to the Northeast over the next several days.
The Texas Tribune found that at least 41 people died of either heart-related or unknown causes in Texas prisons in the summer of 2023, many in their 20s and 30s.
- Only 30% of Texas prisons have air conditioning, and temperatures inside regularly reach over 110 degrees during the summer months.