Key Facts Of The Day 11/19

Hurricanes

• Heavy rain, strong winds and snow are forecast to impact large hubs like Atlanta, Chicago and New York to kickoff Thanksgiving week.

• Texas gas companies now have the ability to raise the costs of customers’ monthly bills to help regain funds lost during the February winter storm.

• Texas and the Midwest are at risk of winter blackouts if another deep freeze hits.

  • Main Texas grid could see a power shortfall of 37% in extreme conditions.

• After the February winter storm in Texas, many residents are worried about power outages and are stocking up on firewood.

• Pedernales Electric and the Central Texas Electrical Co-op in Texas have upgraded their software to help better identify problem areas and to respond to it in preparation for winter.

• The 2021 Atlantic Hurricane season is winding down as it is coming to an end on November 30th.

  • This year there were 21 named storms including 7 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes.

• Hurricane Ida is blamed for the incredibly significant loss of 106 square miles of wetlands.

• Study shows sequential landfalling storms are more likely to form in Florida and Louisiana due to climate change.

Wildfires

• As of Friday, there are currently 7 large active wildfires that have burned 94,551 acres across CA, MT, NE, SD, and TX. This year to date, 52,085 wildfires have burned 6,619,632 acres across the country.

• Climate change puts stress on Northwest forests during the fire season.

  • Wildfires are burning more severely than in previous decades, which can overcome the adaptations of forests that are adapted to more frequent but less severe fires.

  • The climate of the Pacific Northwest is getting warmer with decreased rainfall during the summer due to human-induced climate change.

• Pacific Gas & Electric is testing artificial intelligence that could expand wildfire detection capabilities.

•  A new fire evacuation study in Colorado Springs, Colorado shows that the city is less than prepared when it comes to evacuating the community safely should a major wildfire breakout.

Extreme Heat

• As federal scientists predict California is likely to see little relief from the drought this winter, San Jose Water Officials set tough new drought restrictions for customers.

  • Customers need to cut their water usage down to 15% below 2019 levels and those who use more than their allocated amount will have to pay a surcharge of $7.13 per unit.

• Federal scientists project that the drought is going to stick around for a third year in California.

  • With a strengthening La Niña, the likelihood of drought condition improvement has dimmed for the Bay Area.

  • Gov. Gavin Newsom has asked residents to voluntarily cut water use by 15% and if there is no improvement this winter, he will consider mandatory statewide water restrictions.

  • A continuing drought is also apt to worsen next year’s fire season.

• Drought conditions in North Carolina show no sign of diminishing and will likely persist until February.

  • The lack of rainfall has also been expanding drought conditions in the state.

New Reports And Data

• A November 2021 study found that there are economic, environmental and grid-resilience benefits of converting diesel trains to battery-electric.

• A November 2021 study found that sugary foods and drinks contribute to a higher cropland, water scarcity and ecological footprint.

• A November 2021 study found that cutting ammonia emissions is a cost-effective way to prevent air pollution deaths.