Climate Impact Report – 6/5

Quick Facts

Tropical Storm Arlene was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone on Saturday, a day after it formed in the Gulf of Mexico and became the first named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season.
On Saturday night, Harrisburg and Central Pennsylvania residents experienced a severe storm with golf ball-sized hail, resulting in extensive damage.
- Roads, trailways, and billboards have been blocked or damaged, disrupting normal routines and creating a significant cleanup effort.
- The combination of strong winds, heavy rain, and hail led to thousands of power outages in the area and numerous street closures.
Rising seas, sinking land, and intense coastal storms threaten the Pointe-aux-Chenes, Louisiana, area.
- Pointe-au-Chien Tribe estimates that 90% of its land has already been submerged underwater over the past century.

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.

A new study found that many parts of Miami-Dade County, Florida, get hotter than the official reading — an average of six degrees Fahrenheit hotter.
Projected shortfalls in groundwater supplies will limit new construction in the Phoenix area as persistent drought takes a toll on Arizona’s future growth.
- Arizona Builders must demonstrate sufficient groundwater supplies in five major areas of the state, including portions of Maricopa, Pinal, Pima, Santa Cruz, and Yavapai counties.
The high plains drought is so bad that Kansas is importing wheat from Europe.

A June 2023 report found that international action is vital to mitigate the impact of searing heat waves in Pakistan.
A May 2023 study found that plants can efficiently remove toxic gasoline fumes, including cancer-causing compounds such as benzene, from indoor air.
A May 2023 study found that fairy tales offer accessible ways to communicate energy research in the social sciences to help tackle climate change.