Climate Impact Report – 10/5

Quick Facts

52

large active wildfires that have burned 3,008,766 acres across CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, OK, OR, WA, and WY

13+ Million

under a flash flood watch in the South as rainfall over the next couple of days is expected to be as much as they normally would see over the whole of October

91.89%

of Yurok households face food insecurity due to a history of water mismanagement in the Klamath basin and historic drought

Facts Of The Day 10/5

Hurricanes

  • As of Tuesday morning, Hurricane Sam was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone in the far north Atlantic, located between Iceland and Newfoundland, Canada.
  • A tropical disturbance set to meander off the East Coast this weekend is unlikely to become a named storm but could contribute to heavy downpours in parts of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic as the week wears on.
  • Over 13 million under a flash flood watch in the South as rainfall over the next couple of days is expected to be as much as they normally would see over the whole of October. 
  • In Jackson County, Michigan 3 roads closed due to flooding after heavy rainfall.
  • 69 counties in north and central Georgia are under flash flood watch until Thursday morning.
  • A flash flood watch remains in effect for much of Alabama through Thursday as an upper low to the west will keep a wet weather pattern in place.
  • Multiple flash flood warnings were issued in Northwest Florida until Wednesday.
  • Late Monday afternoon, a storm system brought lightning and thunder, but little rain to Southern California.
    • Los Angeles County lifeguards shut down all county beaches, including Avalon on Catalina Island.

Wildfires

  • As of Tuesday, there are currently 52 large active wildfires that have burned 3,008,766 acres across CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, OK, OR, WA, and WY.
  • Wildfire smoke caused hazardous levels of air pollution in parts of the San Joaquin Valley and poor air quality conditions are expected to continue at least through Thursday.
    • California public health officials recommended outside events to be canceled and for residents to stay inside.  
  • Wildfire smoke and ash could leave lasting impact on Lake Tahoe
  • Wildfire smoke blocks the sun from Central Valley crops.
  • In California, 9 fires have burned 2,021,800 acres as of Tuesday.
    • The Caldor Fire burned 221,775 acres and was 93% contained as of Tuesday. 
    • The Dixie Fire burned 963,309 acres and was 94% contained as of Tuesday.
    • The KNP Complex Fire burned 76,768 acres and was 11% contained as of Tuesday.
  • In Colorado, 1 fire has burned a total of 3,792 acres as of Tuesday. 
  • In Idaho, 18 fires have burned a total of 247,076 acres as of Tuesday.
  • In Montana, 9 fires have burned a total of 206,368 acres as of Tuesday.
  • In Nevada, 2 fires have burned a total of 89,637 acres as of Tuesday.
  • In Oklahoma, 1 fire has burned a total of 832 acres as of Tuesday.
  • In Oregon, 6 fires have burned a total of 292,316 acres as of Tuesday.
  • In Washington, 4 fires have burned a total of 131,822 acres as of Tuesday.
  • In Wyoming, 2 fires have burned a total of 15,123 acres as of Tuesday.

Extreme Heat

  • Due to a history of water mismanagement in the Klamath basin and historic drought, the Klamath River has been depleted and 91.89% of Yurok households face food insecurity.
    • The salmon the Yurok have long depended on as a dietary staple and cultural cornerstone have become scarce.
  • The ongoing drought in California has led to severe damage to trees in Corte Madera’s town park.
  • As heat waves intensify, tens of thousands of US classrooms will be too hot for students to learn in.  
    • While the increase in temperature may affect all children, districts located in less affluent counties face the challenge of creating safe learning environments without a financial safety net.
  • A pilot program in Phoenix, Arizona found that surface temperatures on streets with cool coating were as much as 12 degrees lower than those on traditional asphalt.
  • New Jersey advances in renewable energy by ​​building transmission infrastructure to connect planned new offshore wind farms to the regional power grid.
  • Natural disasters, adopting distributed energy resources like solar panels, and the rise of electric vehicles shape adaptations to power grids across the U.S.

New Reports And Data

  • An October 2021 study found that exposure to deadly urban heat worldwide has tripled in recent decades.
  • An October 2021 study found that almost 3/4 of smoke-related deaths and visits to the emergency room for asthma, from western U.S. wildfires, occurred east of the Rocky Mountains. 
  • An October 2021 study found that in 2030 almost 1 in 3 people globally will still be mainly using polluting cooking fuels which are a major source of disease and environmental destruction and devastation.

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