Climate Impact Report – 2/6
February 6, 2024
tags
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3
KilledThe storms that dropped a historic amount of rain on California this week killed at least three people.
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$11B
DamagesThe storms that hit California caused as much as $11 billion in damage and economic losses.
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Drought
North Carolina is drought-free for the first time in almost six months, but five western counties are still considered abnormally dry.
Key Facts Of The Day 2/6
Storms and Flooding
- The storms that dropped a historic amount of rain on California this week killed at least three people and have caused as much as $11 billion in damage and economic losses.
- More than 10 inches of rain fell in the mountains west of Los Angeles, making it one of the wettest two-day periods in 147 years.
- More than a dozen locations in California also reported more than 10 inches of rain in the 48-hour period ending Tuesday morning.
- Two different landslides affected multiple homes in Los Angeles.
- On Monday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a local state of emergency.
- On Sunday, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in eight counties.
- City engineers are redesigning piers to withstand bigger surf with rising sea levels.
- At least a half-dozen public piers have been closed after being repeatedly damaged by storms with multiple atmospheric rivers hitting the state over the past year.
Wildfires
- Nearly six months after a wildfire destroyed the historic town of Lahaina, the Maui Police Department released a 98-page report and is working on improving its response to future tragedies.
- Future response improvements include obtaining better equipment and stationing a high-ranking officer in the island’s communications center during emergencies.
- While the storms in California can help ease drought conditions, they also nourish the growth of vegetation that will eventually fuel future wildfires.
Extreme Heat
- Global warming will make California’s wet and dry seasons more extreme, resulting in more intense deluges and droughts.
- North Carolina is drought-free for the first time in almost six months, but five western counties are still considered abnormally dry.