Climate Impact Report – 11/17

Quick Facts

Lake-effect snow warnings have been issued for parts of western New York ahead of a long-duration lake-effect snow event that could produce potentially record-setting amounts of 3 to 6 feet.
- AccuWeather meteorologists say that roofs on homes and buildings may again be compromised in the areas that receive the most intense snowfall late this week as a result of the added weight.
- Power lines may also come tumbling down and cause some communities to lose power.
On Tuesday, the U.S. government announced it will provide Puerto Rico with temporary electric generation via barges to help in restoring the island’s storm-devastated power grid and ease repeated widespread outages.
- It will allow crews to take equipment such as substations, transformers, and breakers offline for long-needed repairs that are expected to take anywhere from 12 to 18 months.
- The federal government will pay for 90% of the project and Puerto Rico’s government the remaining 10%,
Weak tropical cyclones, including tropical storms, and low-category hurricanes, are intensifying over time due to climate change.

As of November 11, there are currently 19 large active wildfires that have burned 11,358 across AZ, GA, KY, NC, OH, TN, TX, and VA. As of November 11, 61,390 wildfires have burned 7,251,835 acres across the country.
In Arizona, 1 fire has burned 808 acres as of November 11.
In Georgia, 1 fire has burned 115 acres as of November 11.
In North Carolina, 1 fire has burned 105 acres as of November 11.
In Texas, 1 fire has burned 1,500 acres as of November 11.

Facing Colorado River shortage, 30 urban suppliers pledge to remove 30% of decorative grass and replace it with “drought- and climate-resilient landscaping.
As climate change progresses, trees in cities struggle.
- Heat and drought force trees to spend energy surviving, which would otherwise go to regeneration, growth, or fighting off disease and pests.
- With climate change, researchers are concerned canopy loss will outpace the rate of newly planted trees reaching maturity, which takes 10 to 20 years.
- Between 2016 and 2021, Seattle lost 1.7% of its tree canopy, about 255 acres of trees, according to a city report blaming climate change in part.
Scientists warn that vast amounts of bacteria could be released as the world’s glaciers melt due to climate change.

A November 2022 study found that weak tropical cyclones, including tropical storms and low-category hurricanes, are intensifying over time.
A November 2022 study found that human proximity is the best indicator of microplastics being found in the Meramec River in Missouri.