Climate Impact Report – 5/4

Quick Facts

A rare storm in May hit Southern California on Wednesday night and lasted through Thursday morning.
- It was a weaker storm but unusual for the time of year.
At least five popular state parks in the Sierra got so much snow this winter and spring that they won’t be able to open their campgrounds in time for Memorial Day weekend.
Climate models show the United States will likely see more dust storms as rising temperatures dry out the ground and rains fall less frequently.
- Records show that even in areas where the average rainfall hasn’t changed, the timing of rain has changed. There are longer periods between rain events, leaving soils more time to dry as temperatures rise.
Researchers from Colorado State University predict this hurricane season will have 13 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes thanks to the expected development of El Niño conditions in the Pacific later in the year.

As of April 28, 13 large active wildfires have burned 45,376 acres across CO, FL, KS, NJ, NM, NC, OK, and WV.
As of April 28, 12,972 wildfires have burned 392,287 acres across the country.
In Colorado, 1 fire has burned 4,618 acres as of April 28.
In Florida, 2 fires have burned 1,353 acres as of April 28.
In New Mexico, 1 fire has burned 989 acres as of April 28.
In North Carolina, 1 fire has burned 32,400 acres as of April 28.
In Oklahoma, 5 fires have burned 2,384 acres as of April 28.

Lake Mead water levels are expected to drop again by September 2023.
- Last summer, an entire town, human remains, and much more was uncovered due to vanishing water levels.
The U.S. Forest Service estimates that cities are losing some 36 million trees yearly, wiped out by development, disease, and climate stressors like drought.
Trees help keep neighborhoods cool, absorb rainwater, and clean up air pollution, but they need to survive those conditions to provide those critical functions.
- Many cities are looking to plant trees that survive in the desert.

A May 2023 study found that shampoos, paint strippers, and other common wares expose the public to thousands of tons of toxic air pollution annually.
A May 2023 study found that over 250 million people faced acute food insecurity in 2022 due to the fallout of Russia’s war in Ukraine, conflicts, climate change, and extreme weather.