Climate Impact Report – 7/6

Quick Facts
45
large wildfires active across AZ, CA, CO, FL, ID, MT, NM, and UT
102.9°F
average June temperature in Death Valley National Park, the hottest since 1912
60%
percent of Hawaii considered "abnormally dry", increasing risk of wildfire danger
Facts Of The Day 7/6
Extreme Heat
- An investigation found that Oregon’s healthcare system was inadequately prepared to handle June’s heatwave.
- Death Valley National Park experienced its hottest June on record. Death Valley saw a record temperature of 128 degrees on June 28th and the low on June 29th was 104 degrees at 3AM.
- Boston saw its hottest June on record, with its average temperature at 74.4 degrees.
- The California Independent System Operator asked for more power supplies from Western electric and power plants as heatwaves threaten more rolling blackouts.
- Texans have been buying generators in preparation for future power outages during extreme weather events.
Wildfires
- There are currently 45 large wildfires active across AZ, CA, CO, FL, ID, MT, NM, and UT. Nationally, 672,653 acres have burned so far this year.
- In Arizona, the Tiger Fire has burned 11,970 acres and was 0% contained as of Monday evening. The Horsethief Basin area was ordered to evacuate.
- In California, the Lava Fire in Siskiyou County has burned through 25,001 acres and was 71% contained as of Monday evening. At least 12 homes have been destroyed with another 45 structures burned. 53 structures remain threatened, and four firefighters have been injured as of Monday.
- In California, the Beckwourth Complex Fire has burned 1,141 acres with 47% containment as of Monday night. The Dotta and Sugar fires merged on Sunday into the Beckwourth Complex Fire.
- In California, the Salt Fire burned almost 12,000 acres as of Monday afternoon with 20% contained. As of Monday, 41 structures, including 27 homes and 14 outbuildings have been destroyed.
- In California, Tumbleweed Fire has burned almost 1,000 acres and was 10% contained Monday night. Nearby areas were under evacuation order, and two firefighters have been injured as of Monday.
- Ash and debris from last year’s wildfires is affecting the water supply in Greely, Colorado.
- In Colorado, the Sylvan Lake Fire in Sylvan Lake State Park burned more than 3,792 acres with 68% contained as of Monday night. The fire has cost $6.6 million to contain as of Monday.
- In Colorado, the Muddy Slide Fire burned 4,093 acres and was 45% contained as of Monday night. The fire has cost $5.4 million to contain as of Monday.
- In Colorado, the Oil Springs Fire burned more 12,613 acres with 97% contained as of Saturday night. The fire has cost $4.9 million to contain as of Monday. The fire had previously threatened a gas plant.
- Oregon engineers are studying how wildfires spread.
- Utah Democrats in the state legislature have called for a special session to grant local governments the authority to ban fireworks in their jurisdictions.
- Utah elected officials are considering proposals that could charge people with “negligent burning” for starting fires, which could range from misdemeanor up to a felony with the possibility of prison time..
- In Utah, the Snake John Fire burned 650 acres and was 60% contained as of Saturday afternoon. Officials said the fire initially threatened “oil and gas infrastructure,” but the threat passed as of 12PM on Saturday.
- In Washington, the Batterman Fire burned 7,900 acres and was 10% contained as of Tuesday morning. Nearby areas were ordered to evacuate, and 80 structures are threatened as of Tuesday
Hurricanes
- Tropical Storm Elsa made landfall in Cuba on Monday.
- Elsa made landfall on the south coast of Cuba at 2PM with winds at 60 MPH. Winds weakened to 50MPH late Monday afternoon.
- Winds are expected to increase to 60-65MPH on Tuesday as Elsa moves northward off the west coast of Florida.
- Parts of Florida were under hurricane watch, tropical storm warnings and a state of emergency on Monday as Elsa is projected to make landfall north of Tampa, Florida, on Wednesday morning.
- The west coast of the Florida Peninsula, including Tampa Bay, are under a storm watch warning as of Tuesday.
- The west coast of Florida from Bonita Beach to the Aucilla River is under a storm surge warning as of Tuesday.
- Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties are all under a state of emergency as of Tuesday.
- As of 8AM Tuesday, Elsa had maximum sustained winds of 6 MPH and was located 55MPH west of Key West, Florida, moving north-northwest at 12MPH.
- The Georgia coast and parts of the South Carolina coast are under tropical storm watches as of Tuesday morning.
- Elsa is expected to produce rainfall totalling 4 to 8 inches, which could result in flash flooding from Florida into Southern Carolina. Parts of the Florida Peninsula to the Carolinas could see 1 to 2 inches, and Tampa is expected to see 2 to 4 inches of rain and a storm surge of 1 to 3 feet.
- To prepare for the storm, MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa began evacuations with only mission essential personnel with limited access as of Tuesday.
- As Elsa moves away from the East Coast and into the Atlantic Ocean, it could bring rough surf, strong winds and rain to the New England coast.
- Elsa made landfall on the south coast of Cuba at 2PM with winds at 60 MPH. Winds weakened to 50MPH late Monday afternoon.
- After the heavy rains in late June, 25,000 gallons of sewage overflowed in a wooded area just east of Hogback Road on Tuesday in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Climate Studies
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