Climate Impact Report – 7/12
July 12, 2023
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KilledDeadly flooding inundated parts of the Northeast, trapping people in their homes and killing at least one woman swept away by the fast-moving water.
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MillionThe National Weather Service issued heat alerts for more than 86 million people from Florida to California, with the hottest temperatures expected in the southwest.
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Heat +
SeaThe Gulf of Mexico has unusually high sea surface temperatures, including water temperatures in the low 90s around South Florida.
Key Facts Of The Day 7/12
Hurricanes
- The warm waters around Florida could create an environment that allows a tropical system to rapidly intensify more easily.
- As of Wednesday morning, flood warnings affecting over 2 million people across parts of New England and Oklahoma remain.
- The bodies of two children were recovered from Lake Overholser, a reservoir in Oklahoma City, after authorities said they were swept up Monday evening in strong currents following heavy rainfall in the city over the weekend.
- Deadly flooding inundated parts of the Northeast, trapping people in their homes and killing at least one woman swept away by the fast-moving water.
- On Sunday, more than 7.5 inches of rain fell at West Point, New York, in just six hours — a 1,000-year rainfall event for the area.
- Climate change is supercharging these extreme weather events.
- On Monday, rivers in Vermont rose quickly in torrential rain to levels not seen since Hurricane Irene in 2011.
Wildfires
- As of July 10, 24 large active wildfires have burned 149,471 acres across AZ, CA, CO, ID, MI, NM, OR, UT, and WI.
- As of July 10, 25,630 wildfires have burned 25,630 acres across the country.
- In Arizona, 8 fires have burned 67,512 acres as of July 10.
- In California, 2 fires have burned 1,873 acres as of July 10.
- In Colorado, 2 fires have burned 3,797 acres as of July 10.
- In New Mexico, 4 fires have burned 69,366 acres as of July 10.
Extreme Heat
- The National Weather Service issued heat alerts for more than 86 million people from Florida to California, with the hottest temperatures expected in the southwest.
- Phoenix, Arizona, has logged 11 consecutive days at or above 110 degrees.
- In addition to setting records, there remains an outside chance that parts of the Phoenix area can reach 120 degrees.
- The National Weather Service in Phoenix is warning of “Major to Extreme Heat Risk.”
- Vulnerable populations will be susceptible to increased heat-related illnesses, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Heat stroke can lead to death.
- California’s Death Valley, one of the hottest places on Earth, may reach between 125 degrees Fahrenheit to 130 degrees Fahrenheit this week or next.
- Miami, Florida, has seen 30 straight days with a heat index at or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit and five consecutive days at or above 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Various counties in Texas have issued outdoor burn bans this week as the state grapples with a record-breaking heatwave.
- Phoenix, Arizona, has logged 11 consecutive days at or above 110 degrees.
- The Gulf of Mexico has unusually high sea surface temperatures, including water temperatures in the low 90s around South Florida.
- At multiple observation sites, water temperatures in the Florida Keys are high, between 95 degrees Fahrenheit and 97 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Marine heat waves can be dangerous to coral reefs, which have a narrow temperature range and can be subject to bleaching if exposed to warm waters.
- The warm waters around Florida could create an environment that allows a tropical system to rapidly intensify more easily.