Climate Impact Report – 8/7

August 7, 2024

Key Facts Of The Day 8/7

Tropical Storm Debby

As of Wednesday morning, Debby’s center was over the Atlantic, 65 miles south-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina. The storm’s winds increased by 5 mph overnight to 45 mph.
As of Wednesday, six people have died from Tropical Storm Debby.
- Five of the deaths were from traffic accidents or fallen trees.
- One death was reported in Florida after a man’s body was recovered after his anchored sailboat partially sank.
By Wednesday afternoon, heavy storms are expected to develop closer to Debby’s center, bringing more downpours to already-waterlogged portions of South Carolina, including the city of Charleston.
On Wednesday, a level 4 of 4 high-risk flooding rainfall was issued for far northwestern South Carolina and southeastern North Carolina.
As of Wednesday, Green Pond in rural Colleton County, South Carolina, had reported the most rainfall so far, with over 14 inches.
Debby was expected to move north starting Wednesday afternoon and make landfall overnight between Charleston and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Debby was expected to bring storm surge flooding up to four feet along the Carolina coast.
On Wednesday morning, the city of Charleston, South Carolina, lifted its curfew after Debby moved towards the Atlantic and away from the coastline.
- As of Tuesday, Charleston had received over one foot of rain from Debby.
As of Tuesday afternoon, there were 12,000 storm-related outages across South Carolina.
On Tuesday, officials in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, informed residents that flooding fueled by Debby caused the town’s drainage system to be “generally full.”
On Tuesday, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency in anticipation of Tropical Storm Debby’s arrival.
On Tuesday, flash flood warnings were issued in parts of Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York.
- On Tuesday, 3 to 5 inches of rain were reported in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- On Tuesday, 2 to 4.5 inches of rain were reported in Newark, New Jersey.
- On Tuesday, 1.5 to 4.5 inches of rain were reported in New York City, New York.
More than one million people, including residents of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina, were under a tornado watch along the Carolina coast. The watch was extended to Wednesday morning at 1 a.m. EDT.

Wildfires

As of Wednesday, 88 large active wildfires have burned 2,289,077 acres across OR, ID, CA, WA, AZ, MT, WY, UT, CO, NV, and NM. This year to date, 29,509 wildfires have burned 4,758,910 acres across the country.
In Arizona, 8 fires have burned 58,201 acres as of Wednesday.
In California, 9 fires have burned 514,842 acres as of Wednesday.
- As of Wednesday, the Park Fire has burned 420,827 acres and is 34% contained.
- The Park Fire has destroyed 640 structures and damaged 52 structures.
- The Fire grew nearly 6,000 acres on Tuesday, totaling more than 11,000 acres burned across the Mark Creek canyon in one day.
- The wildfire was reported to be California’s fourth largest on record.
- Evacuation orders and warnings were issued in four California counties.
In Colorado, 3 fires have burned 14,146 acres as of Wednesday.
In Idaho, 12 fires have burned 71,349 acres as of Wednesday.
In Montana, 4 fires have burned 7,554 acres as of Wednesday.
In Nevada, 2 fires have burned 18,314 acres as of Wednesday.
In New Mexico, 1 fire has burned 6,500 acres as of Wednesday.
In Oregon, 28 fires have burned 1,051,231 acres as of Wednesday.
In Utah, 3 fires have burned 24,289 acres as of Wednesday.
In Washington, 9 fires have burned 162,693 acres as of Wednesday.
In Wyoming, 4 fires have burned 28,509 acres as of Wednesday.

Extreme Heat

According to the American Red Cross, national blood inventory dropped by more than 25% in July of 2024, partially due to extreme heat causing reduced turnout at blood drive events or canceled events from extreme heat.
A new report from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 7 in 10 Americans reported that in the last year, extreme heat impacted their electricity bills.
- The report also found that extreme heat had at least a minor impact on Americans’ outdoor activity, exercise routine, and pets.