Climate Impact Report – 7/19

July 19, 2023

Key Facts Of The Day 7/19

Slow-moving thunderstorms dropped 4 to 6 inches of rain across western Kentucky counties early Wednesday, prompting a flash flood emergency.
- The National Weather Service office in Paducah, Kentucky, warned the flash flood damage threat could be “catastrophic” for Graves, Carlisle, and Hickman Counties.
- In Mayfield, the NWS reported several water rescues were being conducted in the city as floodwaters rose early Wednesday morning.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green declared a state of emergency as Tropical Storm Calvin threatens to deliver strong winds and torrential rain to the Big Island.
- The storm threatens to deliver strong winds and heavy rainfall that could result in flash flooding and mudslides.
With extreme rainfall fueled by climate change causing destructive floods in different parts of the world, researchers are predicting more to come as the world warms further.

As of July 18, 24 large active wildfires have burned 138,919 acres across AZ, CA, CO, ID, NM, OR, and TX.
As of July 18, 27,303 wildfires have burned 777,732 acres across the country.
In Arizona, 6 fires have burned 49,761 acres as of July 18.
In California, 5 fires have burned 11,039 acres as of July 18.
In Colorado, 2 fires have burned 3,797 acres as of July 18.
In New Mexico, 5 fires have burned 64,178 acres as of July 18.
In Texas, 1 fire has burned 383 acres as of July 18.
Smoke from wildfires in Canada that pushed deep into the U.S. this week has reached new areas in the South, including in North Carolina and Georgia.

The combination of El Niño weather patterns and climate change have caused ocean temperatures to soar five degrees above normal since early July.
- In Florida Bay, the wide shallow bay between the Florida Keys and the Gulf of Mexico, temperatures climbed above 98 degrees.
Florida farmworkers are advocating for a municipal heat standard ensuring outdoor workers have access to water, shade, and breaks as extreme heat advisories worsen.
- At least two agricultural workers have died this year from heat-related issues in South Florida.
Phoenix has been under an excessive heat warning as of July 1.
- Valleywise Health Medical Center Communications Director Michael Murphy said that in some extreme cases, patients had been placed in body bags packed with ice to help cool them off and that the burn center has been slammed with patients experiencing contact burns.
- There have been 12 confirmed heat-associated deaths this season in Maricopa County, where Phoenix is located.
- Air quality has also dropped to poor conditions with the stagnant air over the city.
As of Wednesday, a heat warning continues for North Texas.
On Tuesday afternoon, power consumption rose to an all-time high of 82,698 megawatts in Texas amid extreme heat.
- So far, robust power supplies from wind and solar farms are helping to stabilize the grid and keeping power prices relatively low.
On Monday, Delta Air Lines canceled a flight from Las Vegas to Atlanta after extreme heat led to illnesses among passengers.

A July 2023 study found that PFAS can also reduce the activity of human immune cells.
A July 2023 study found that wildlife has begun returning after the 2018 Mendocino Complex Fire in Northern California.