Facts Of The Day 8/10

Extreme Heat

• At least 25 million people in areas ranging from parts of California’s Central Valley, the Willamette Valley in Oregon, and the Washington state interior east of the Cascades will see high temperatures of at least 100 degrees during this week.

• North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum signed an executive order waiving restrictions for hour restrictions for commercial vehicles carrying hay, water and livestock so livestock producers can continue feeding their herds during the drought.

• Idaho saw its second driest spring in the state’s history this year.

• 93% of Wyoming was under a drought condition as of Monday.

• 88% of Arizona is experiencing severe drought as of Monday.

  • In 2022, the state will begin reducing its share of water from the Colorado River.

  • Farmers and ranchers are expected to bear the brunt of losing 18% or 512,000 acre-feet of water that is normally sourced from the Colorado River.

• Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks has been considering opening 14 wildlife management areas across the state to farmers and ranchers for feeding their livestock due to the drought.

• Drought has dried up two wells for a farmer in California, causing 2,000 acres of alfalfa to dry out.

• Drought in North Dakota has led to an extra 100,000 cattle put up for sale compared to last year.

• Heatwaves may now be part of a new normal for the Pacific Northwest due to climate change.

• California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington all had their highest monthly average temperatures for July on record.

• Scientists fear that there could be a second bloom of red tide around Florida later this summer.

• As red tide usually shows up on Florida’s west coast in the fall, it is possible that climate change has caused a red tide outbreak in the summer and may become a more common occurrence.

• Legislation to reclassify manatees as an endangered species was introduced on Monday after red tide has caused a significant loss of seagrass, their major food source.

Wildfires

• There are currently 108 large wildfires that have burned 2,411,342 acres across AZ, CA, CO, ID, MN, MT, NE, NM, NV, SD, UT, WA, and WY.

• 4 new large fires were reported across Montana and Oregon and 2 large fires were reported contained on Thursday.

• Wildfire smoke from Russia has reached the North Pole for the first time in recorded history.

• California’s utility provider PG&E was set to bury the power line that is potentially responsible for the Dixie Fire along with others as part of its campaign to reduce wildfire risk.

• The US Forest Service has announced it will halt both prescribed burns that remove brush and vegetation and managed burns where naturally caused fires in remote areas that are not a risk to people are allowed to burn.

• In California, The Dixie Fire burned 482,047 acres and was 22% contained as of Tuesday.

  • The Dixie Fire has destroyed 873 structures, damaged 61, and threatened another 16,035.

  • With improved air conditions, two dozen helicopters and two air tankers have been able to assist in battling the fire.

  • 4 firefighters were taken to the hospital on Friday.

  • Over 30 people had been reported missing in connection to the Dixie Fire, but as of Monday officials said all of them had been located.

• Wildfires have damaged soil and vegetation roots in Colorado, contributing to mudslides on Interstate 70 that could be an issue for the next 5 to 10 years.

• One new fire sparked in Montana on Monday – the Horse Creek Fire burned 1,683 acres and was 0% contained. One fire was contained – the Hamilton Fire burned 400 acres.

• One new fire sparked in Oregon on Monday – the Knoll Fire burned 300 acres and was 0% contained.

Hurricanes

• Potential Tropical Cyclone 6 is expected to organize into Tropical Storm Fred sometime on Tuesday.

  • As of Tuesday morning, Potential Tropical Cyclone 6 was moving west-northwest at 17 mph and was located about 105 miles west of Guadeloupe and 270 miles east southeast of Ponce, Puerto Rico with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph

  • It is forecast to move over the northeastern Caribbean Sea today and become a tropical storm while doing so.

  • Potential Tropical Cyclone 6 is projected to approach Florida this weekend.

  • The system is expected to bring 2 to 4 inches of rain over the Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, with some areas seeing up to 6. The  U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico could see flooding and mudslides.

Climate Studies