Climate Impact Report – 2/2

Quick Facts

510K Outages

The winter storm hitting the South caused bout 510,000 customers to lose power across Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

9 Deaths

Treacherous driving conditions from the storm resulted in at least nine deaths on slick roads since Monday, including seven in Texas and one each in Oklahoma and Arkansas.

23% Decline

A February 2023 study found that under more severe climate warming scenarios, the inventory of trees used for timber in the continental United States could decline by as much as 23% by 2100.

Key Facts Of The Day 2/2

Storms and Flooding

  • As of Thursday morning, over 11 million people across the U.S. were under ice storm warnings, while another 4.2 million were under winter storm warnings.
    • About 510,000 customers were without power across Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
      • Texas alone accounted for more than 410,000 of the power outages.
    • Texas bore the brunt of a dangerous ice storm that dumped several rounds of sleet and freezing rain, causing life-threatening road conditions in surrounding states, including Oklahoma, Arkansas, and the Memphis area in Tennessee.
    • Treacherous driving conditions from the storm resulted in at least nine deaths on slick roads since Monday, including seven in Texas and one each in Oklahoma and Arkansas.
    • Dallas Independent School District, which serves more than 145,000 students, canceled classes for a third day over the storm on Thursday, as did Austin Independent School District, which serves around 74,000 students.
  • Forecasters predict that a separate winter storm in the Northeast will have wind chills well below zero degrees Fahrenheit on Friday and Saturday.
    • More than 15 million people are expected to be under a wind chill watch or warning in the Northeast beginning either Thursday night or Friday morning through at least Saturday afternoon.
    • Warming centers are expected to be available in Maine, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Vermont.
    • In Boston, the mayor declared a cold emergency in the city for Friday through Sunday ahead of the severely cold weather.

Wildfire

  • As of January 27, there are currently 0  large active wildfires that have burned 0 acres across the country.
  • As of January 27, 1,392 wildfires have burned 11,005 acres across the country.

Extreme Heat

  • The U.S. and Texas cattle inventory decreased following the drought.
  • Even with the added acres, a multi-year drought that has gripped the key Plains wheat belt puts harvest prospects in doubt, especially in states like top producers Kansas and Oklahoma.
  • Although California entered February with a deeper snowpack than it has seen in four decades, it has spurred concerns about dryness, flooding, and other potential hazards in the months ahead.

New Reports and Data

  • A February 2023 study found that under more severe climate warming scenarios, the inventory of trees used for timber in the continental United States could decline by as much as 23% by 2100.
  • A January 2023 study found that over 4% of summer mortality in European cities is attributable to urban heat islands.

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