Climate Impact Report – 11/22

November 22, 2024

Key Facts Of The Day 11/22

A powerful atmospheric river is unleashing torrential, flooding rainfall across Northern California and parts of the Pacific Northwest in the wake of a historically strong bomb cyclone.
- The storm killed at least two people as it tore through Western Washington this week.
- A rare level 4 of 4 high risk of flooding rainfall is in effect through Friday morning.
- An additional 5 to 7 inches of rainfall are possible across the region over the next 48 hours, with isolated totals of more than 10 inches.
- As of Thursday night, some areas in Northern California have already seen 11 to 17 inches of rainfall.
- As of Thursday, more than a foot of snow fell in parts of the Cascade Mountains and in California.
- Flooding forced road closures Thursday in Northern California’s Sonoma County, including its largest city, Santa Rosa.
- Approximately 150 people had to shelter in place Thursday at a medical center and a hotel in Santa Rosa because of flooding outside.
- About a dozen small landslides also struck across Northern California in a 24-hour period, including one on Highway 281 Wednesday morning that caused a vehicle crash.
A new storm is expected to move toward the Northwest coast Friday and strengthen.
- Although less intense, it will still bring in another round of gusty winds, rain, and snow.

As of Friday, 5 large active wildfires have burned 141,141 acres across MA and NY. This year to date, 51,320 wildfires have burned 8,142,689 acres across the country.
In Massachusetts, 4 fires have burned 2,479 acres as of Friday.
In New York, 1 fire has burned 5,304 acres as of Friday.
Governor Doug Burgum requested a presidential major disaster declaration for the fires that scorched northwest North Dakota last month.

In November, Kentucky became the 49th state to enter drought conditions, leaving only one state — Alaska — drought-free during the week ending November 19, 2024.
- States like Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and South Dakota experienced droughts affecting 100% of their land area.
Athletes spoke at the United Nations Climate Change Conference about how climate change threatens their sports and their health.
- Climate change is also making sports more expensive and widening disparities.