Climate Impact Report – 8/27

Quick Facts

88

large active wildfires that have burned 2,481,840 acres across CA, CO, ID, MN, MT, NV, WA, OR, SD, UT, WA and WY.

34,811

California residents had been ordered to evacuate due to wildfires.

139,510

acres burned by the Caldor Fire and was 12% contained as of Friday.

Facts Of The Day 8/27

Extreme Heat

  • Multiple school districts in Indiana canceled outdoor sports practices on Wednesday, citing the extreme heat.

  • Holt Public Schools in Michigan sent students home early on Thursday due to extreme heat despite renting more than 2 dozen portable air conditioners.

  • Starting dates for the school year in Bowling Green, Ohio were delayed to next Monday due to excessive heat.

  • High school football games in St. Louis, Missouri area will still be played even though practices earlier in the week had been adjusted due to excessive heat.

  • Trash collection in the area around Bowling Green, Kentucky was set to be delayed due to excessive heat and COVID-19 absences as of Thursday.

  • Fargo, North Dakota has asked residents to limit lawn watering to once a week to reduce the city’s water usage by 25% in response to the ongoing drought.

  • California wineries are adapting to climate change by integrating fire mitigation and irrigation techniques to save on water usage and planting grapes more resilient to heat.

  • Oregon is becoming less resilient to drought conditions as less snow and rain have prevented the state from bouncing back from dry seasons.

  • Although the number of dead fish may be declining, red tide is still an ongoing issue for Charlotte County, Florida.

  • Red tide may be threatening the population of redfish, a popular game fish in Florida’s waters.

  • Englewood, Florida’s economy has been damaged by the red tide as tourists stay away and one boat rental business had to refund thousands of dollars.

  • Officials in Lee County, Florida have issued reminders to residents and visitors when visiting areas including Boca Grande Pass, Gasparilla Island State Park because of the red tide.

Wildfires

  • There are currently 88 large active wildfires that have burned 2,481,840 acres across CA, CO, ID, MN, MT, NV, WA, OR, SD, UT, WA, and WY.

  • This year to date, 42,158 wildfires have burned 4,870,684 acres across the country.

  • Memorabilia related to Al Capone will be auctioned off as his granddaughters fear the items could be destroyed by wildfires.

  • Wildfires can often serve as a catalyst for regrowth and regeneration for forests despite the increasing dangers of an expanding wildland-urban interface.

  • A proposed law in California would provide outdoor workers increased protection from wildfires.

  • As of Thursday afternoon, 34,811 California residents had been ordered to evacuate due to wildfires.

  • One fire sparked in California on Thursday – the South Fire burned 900 acres and was 19% contained.

  • In California, the Caldor Fire burned 139,510 acres and was 12% contained as of Friday.

    • As of Friday morning, about 650 homes, businesses and other structures have been destroyed and another 18,000 are still threatened.

    • Areas that were ordered to evacuate as of Thursday afternoon include the Twin Bridges and Echo Summit areas.

    • The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority recommended on Thursday that tourists postpone any travel into the area until further notice.

  • One new fire sparked in Nevada on Thursday – the Southern Bench Fire burned 200 acres and was 0% contained.

  • One fire was contained in Utah on Thursday- the East Desolation Fire burned 211 acres.

Hurricanes

  • Tropical Storm Ida is strengthening into a hurricane in the Caribbean Sea as of Friday morning and is expected to threaten the northern Gulf Coast this weekend.

    • Ida is expected to become a hurricane on Saturday over the southeast Gulf of Mexico.

    • The Louisiana or Mississippi coast could expect Ida’s landfall on Sunday when an area of high pressure will send Ida northwestward to that region.

    • A hurricane watch is currently in effect for parts of Louisiana to the Mississippi-Alabama state line.

    • The area from the Texas-Louisiana state line to the Alabama-Florida state line is under a storm surge watch, meaning dangerous flooding could occur in the next 48 hours.

    • A tropical storm watch has been issued for the Alabama coastline, with tropical storm conditions possibly developing within the next 48 hours.

    • Parts of the Cayman Islands and western Cuba remain under tropical storm warnings and could see tropical storm-force winds of 39 MPH.

    • Ida could cause hurricane-force winds, flooding rainfall and life-threatening storm surge on Sunday and Monday, especially in Louisiana. Storm surge ranges could include:

      • 7 to 11 feet in Morgan City, Louisiana, to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, including Lake Borgne

      • 4 to 7 feet in Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana to Morgan City, including Vermilion Bay

      • 4 to 7 feet in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Mississippi-Alabama border

      • 3 to 5 feet along the Alabama coast including Mobile Bay

      • 2 to 4 feet in Sabine Pass to Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana

      • Lake Pontchartrain could experience 3 to 5 feet of storm surge

      • Lake Maurepas is forecast to see 3 to 5 feet storm surge.

    • Tropical storm conditions could arrive along the Gulf Coast as soon as Saturday night, possibly downing trees, causing widespread power outages, and structural damage.

    • The inland parts of Louisiana and Mississippi could experience tropical storm-force winds.

    • Parts of the northern Gulf Coast could see 8 to 16 inches of rain, with up to 20 inches in some places.

    • The Deep South and Tennessee Valley could be threatened by flooding Monday and Tuesday.

    • The northern Gulf Coast could see high surf and rip currents beginning Saturday night and into Sunday morning.

Climate Studies

  • An August 2021 study found that safe passages in different environments for species adapting to climate change are not always protected, and may hinder their ability to find more hospitable habitats.

  • An August 2021 study found that a warming climate means there are fewer El Niño and La Niña events and more extreme rainfall events.

  • An August 2021 study found that dams are ineffective for mimicking the cold water conditions needed by California’s salmon and trout, meaning bolder action must be taken to reverse extinction trends.

GET EXTREME WEATHER UPDATES STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

Wanna know more? Sign up for regular updates on extreme weather impacts and how you can fight for bold climate action.