Facts Of The Day 7/21

Extreme Heat

• The 5,000 residents of Needles, California must rely on only one well in the area that meets the state’s water standards because it cannot afford the $1.5 million amount to fix the other three wells.

• As of Tuesday, there are five heat domes in the Northern Hemisphere blasting heat on parts of North America, Europe and Asia.

• North Dakota roads are buckling due to the heat.

• Heat-related injuries between 2001 and 2018 created an extra 20,000 injuries with a social cost of $1 billion in California.

• At least 112 people have died due to Washington’s June 2021 heatwave.

  • 20 of Washington’s 39 counties reported at least one death from heat-related causes.

• Climate change may have made heat waves that were once considered statistically impossible far more likely.

• At least 2,700 wells in the California counties of Fresno, Madera and Tulare counties could go dry this year, at a cost of about $14 million.

• 31 cities worldwide, including Austin, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Seattle in the US have joined a global compact that aims to improve communities affected by climate change, such as the urban heat island effect.

• On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed the Enhancing Grid Security Through Public-Private Partnerships Act, which aims to enhance cyber and physical electric grid security.

• 61% of confirmed heat-related deaths in Multnomah County, Oregon during recent heat waves occurred in zip codes with poverty rates higher than the nation’s average.

  • At least two people who died in Multnomah County from heat-related issues were experiencing homelessness.

  • At least four others were living in public housing.

• Multiple cities in Wyoming broke or tied their records for highest temperature on Monday.

  • Greybull broke their record at 107 degrees.

  • Worland broke its record at 106 degrees.

  • Big Piney broke its record at 94 degrees.

  • Buffalo broke its record at 101 degrees.

  • Lander broke its record at 100 degrees.

  • Riverton broke its record at 100 degrees.

  • Casper tied its record at 74 degrees.

  • Cody tied its record at 98 degrees.

Wildfires

• There are currently 78 large wildfires that have burned 1,346,736 acres across AZ, CA, CO, ID, MN, MT, NM, NV UT, WA and WY.

• 3 new large fires were reported across California Idaho, and Wyoming and 3 large fires were reported contained on Monday.

• New York City’s air quality was among the worst in the world as of Wednesday morning.

• Oregon experts say that larger wildfires are likely to become more common in the Western United States.

• A judge ruled that the California insurance commissioner can order the state’s insurer of last resort to offer more coverage options for homeowners who live in wildfire-prone areas and are unable to buy traditional coverage.

• Sonoma County in California could see more planned power outages to reduce wildfire risk.

• Although Southern California has been spared from the worst drought impacts so far in 2021, the region remains highly vulnerable to wildfires.

• One new fire was sparked in California on Tuesday – the Peak Fire burned 950 acres and had 0% contained.

• One new wildfire was reported in Idaho on Tuesday – the Stateline Complex Fire burned 2,147 acres.

• In Oregon, the Bootleg Fire burned 388,359 acres and was 30% contained as of Tuesday afternoon. The Bootleg Fire, which is now Oregon’s fourth largest fire in history, has also given scientists the opportunity to study forest management effectiveness for reducing wildfire risks and impacts. As of Tuesday, at least 2,000 homes had been evacuated and another 5,000 threatened as the fire progressed. As of Tuesday at least 70 homes and more than 100 outbuildings have been destroyed.

• Washington announced it would close all state public lands beginning on Friday due to high wildfire danger.

• One new fire sparked in Wyoming on Tuesday – The Saw Mill Fire burned 1,200 acres and was 70% contained.

Hurricanes

• Florida could be under watches or warnings by the end of the week due to a broad, non-tropical low-pressure system that is expected to emerge by late Friday or early Saturday.

  •  The system is forecast to develop off of Florida’s east coast with a 20% chance of developing into a tropical depression or tropical storm over the next five days.

• Gulf Coast residents are still recovering from the 2020 hurricane season despite the most active part of the 2021 season still to come.

New Reports And Data

• • A July 2021 study found that climate change threatens countries whose food supplies rely on fish.

  • A July 2021 study found that climate change is making oceans uninhabitable for marine flora and fauna.

  • A July 2021 study found that despite spending similar amounts of money, men’s spending on goods causes more climate-heating emissions.

  • A July 2021 analysis found exposure to wildfire smoke may be more harmful than previously thought