Climate Impact Report – 9/20

Quick Facts

As of Wednesday morning, Hurricane Nigel was located about 590 miles east northeast of Bermuda, moving north at 16 MPH, with maximum sustained winds of 100 MPH.
A storm system over the central and southern Plains and a new system emerging from the western U.S. will cause a risk for severe weather later this week and into the start of the weekend.
- Thunderstorms can turn severe in some areas, bringing risks such as hail, damaging winds, and even an isolated tornado.
As Florida begins to rebuild after Hurricane Idalia, some laborers without legal status who specialize in rebuilding are opting to stay away from Florida – including those who helped after Hurricane Ian – due to Gov. DeSantis’ immigration law.

As of Wednesday, 62 large active wildfires have burned 487,857 acres across 11 states: AZ, CA, CO, ID, LA, MT, NM, OR, TX, UT, and WA. This year to date, 43,244 wildfires have burned 2,197,812 acres across the country.
In Arizona, 3 fires have burned 5,782 acres as of Wednesday.
In California, 6 fires have burned 162,654 acres as of Wednesday.
In Colorado, 4 fires have burned 9,809 as of Wednesday.
In Louisiana, 4 fires have burned 42,827 acres as of Wednesday.
In New Mexico, 2 fires have burned 18,461 acres as of Wednesday.
In Oregon, 12 fires have burned 120,850 acres as of Wednesday.
In Texas, 1 fire has burned 400 acres as of Wednesday.
In Washington, 7 fires have burned 16,096 acres as of Wednesday.

Seven states in the South and the West, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, and Washington, had one of their hottest summers in more than 70 years.
More than 50 counties in Texas, mainly in the southern portion of the state, experienced their hottest summer in more than a century of record-keeping.
Hot and dry weather has left water levels in the Mississippi River so low that barge companies are reducing their loads and increasing their rates.
- The cargo rate from St. Louis southward is now up 77% above the three-year average.
- The limitations come just as Midwest farmers prepare to harvest crops and send tons of corn and soybeans downriver to the Gulf of Mexico.
- A long stretch of heat and a lack of normal rainfall patterns has already left Midwestern states with poor crop conditions.

A September 2023 study found that 39 million properties are at risk of rising insurance rates and non-renewals due to the threat of flooding, wildfires, and hurricane winds.
A September 2023 study found that droughts in Ohio were more severe from 2000 to 2019 than standard measurements have suggested.
A September 2023 study found that planting hedges between roadsides and school playgrounds can dramatically reduce children’s exposure to traffic-related particle pollution.