Key Facts Of The Day 6/2

Hurricanes

• On Thursday afternoon, a tropical depression formed in the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Even though the system in the Gulf is not heading toward the Florida Peninsula, it could still bring a number of disruptive impacts to the state through Saturday.
  • The most prominent impacts will range from heavy, gusty thunderstorms —mainly during the afternoon and evening hours — to building seas over the eastern Gulf of Mexico and rough surf along the beaches of Florida’s western coast into this weekend.
• A multiday severe weather event in the central U.S. will last into the weekend.
  • Portions of the western Plains will continue to endure more severe weather, including the risk of tornadoes.
  • The thunderstorms will move across portions of nine states through Saturday, bringing locally damaging wind gusts which could stir up dust and dirt, unleash large hail, torrential downpours, and even a tornado.
• Since May 22, there have been hundreds of reports of severe weather from the Mexican to Canadian borders in more than a dozen states.

Wildfires

• As of June 2, 7  large active wildfires have burned 66,209 acres across AZ, FL, NC, NJ,  NM, and OR.
• As of June 2, 18,403 wildfires have burned 518,698 acres across the country.
• In Arizona, 1 fire has burned 1,354 acres as of June 2.
• In Florida, 1 fire has burned 4,952 acres as of June 2.
• In New Jersey, 1 fire has burned 3,100 acres as of June 2.
• In New Mexico, 1 fire has burned 21,207 acres as of June 2.
• In North Carolina, 1 fire has burned 32,156 acres as of June 2.
• In Oregon, 2 fires have burned 3,440 acres as of June 2.

Extreme Heat

• With temperatures forecasted to be above 90 degrees Friday, the School District of Philadelphia has implemented its “extreme heat protocol.”
  • The extreme heat protocol applies to 90 schools in the district that need air conditioning or electrical system upgrades.
  • The district will dismiss the school day two hours early at dozens of schools.
• A new study found that the world’s wheat supply is at risk of a dangerous shock due to heat and drought.
  • The study found that the extreme weather conditions that would push wheat crops beyond their physiological tolerances are becoming more likely.
  • If such weather affected multiple regions at once — a scenario possible in today’s climate — it could stress the global food system in dangerous ways.
  • The climate models showed that heat waves that in 1981 were expected to affect the Midwest in only 1 out of 100 years are now likely every six years.

New Reports and Data

• A June 2023 study found that California home sales where the sellers disclosed wildfire risk sold for 4.3% less than similar homes that didn’t have to address it.
• A June 2023 study found that extreme heat waves and drought due to climate change have the potential to shock the global food supply and send prices soaring.