Key Facts Of The Day 2/21

Storms and Flooding

• As of Tuesday morning, a massive winter storm with a mix of heavy snow, rain, and gusty winds, has put more than 40 million people across 22 states under winter weather alerts.
  • Most mountain ranges across the West are expected to see snow totals between 1 and 2 feet, possibly higher in some areas.
  • Wind gusts of 50 to 60 MPH are expected to impact a large swath of the West, and some places could see up to 80 MPH gusts.
  • A blizzard warning is in place for portions of Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota.
  • Rain and thunderstorms are forecast across the Midwest and Plains late Tuesday night into Wednesday.
  • With a major snowstorm expected to hit Minnesota this week, some airlines are issuing travel waivers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
• Last Thursday, schools in Lincoln County were dismissed two hours early because of high water, but many roads became impassable, forcing the high school students to remain at school overnight.

Wildfire

• As of February 3, there are currently 0  large active wildfires that have burned 0 acres across the country.
• As of February 3, 1,688 wildfires have burned 12,882 acres across the country.

Extreme Heat

• This week in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic, millions will likely experience record-shattering warmth.
• As of last week, Lake Powell’s water levels fell to 3,522 feet above sea level, the lowest seen since the structure was filled in the 1960s.
  • Lake Powell sits just 22% full, and unprecedented cuts in states’ water usage are necessary to avoid dire consequences.
  • Lake Powell generates electricity for about 4.5 million people, and if it drops to 3,490 feet, the dam may be unable to generate hydropower.
  • Lake Powell supplies water to about half of Phoenix, about a quarter of the water in the Los Angeles Basin, and 90% of people in Las Vegas.
• Although the unhoused population represents about 70,000 of Los Angeles County’s more than 9.8 million people, they accounted for nearly half — 5 in 12 — of deaths from heat illness or heat exposure last year.

New Reports and Data

• A February 2023 study found that ocean and nearshore disturbances caused by extreme weather events have exposed “hot spots” along the transglobal cable network, increasing the risk of internet outages.
• A February 2023 study found that a decline in rainfall caused by climate change could endanger the planet’s rainforests by reducing soil moisture that maintains biodiversity and resilience.
• A February 2023 study found that people are more likely to associate declining drinking water quality with severe weather rather than climate change.