Climate Impact Report – 12/6

December 6, 2024

Key Facts Of The Day 12/6

Storms And Flooding

A final round of lake-effect snow, which began last week, is expected to sweep across the Great Lakes and Northeast this weekend.
- Thick bands of snow, reaching up to 24 inches, are expected to fall near the Great Lakes. Residents were warned of local whiteouts and dangerous travel conditions.
- On Friday, wind advisories were issued across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic. Gusts were expected to reach up to 50 mph.
On Friday morning, a blast of arctic air caused temperatures to dip into the 20s in several Southeast states, reaching ten to 15 degrees below the historical average for early December.
- Affected cities included Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Birmingham, Alabama; and Columbia, South Carolina.
- The Arctic air was accompanied by frigid air that could penetrate poorly insulated buildings and lead to frozen and bursting pipes.
- The breeze was expected to exacerbate the hardships for Hurricane Helene victims in the southern Appalachians.
A threat of heavy rain from Eastern Texas into Louisiana is expected to continue into this weekend.
- Widespread rain totals of three to five inches were forecasted.
- On Thursday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott activated state emergency response resources to prepare for potential flash flooding over the weekend.
On Thursday, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Northern California, causing a tsunami warning for 5.3 million people along the U.S. West Coast.
- The earthquake struck west of Ferndale, California, and was felt as far south as San Fransisco.
- No immediate reports of major damage or injuries from the earthquake were reported.

Wildfires

As of December 6, there were zero large active wildfires in the United States. This year to date, 52,447 wildfires have burned 8,406,135 acres across the country.

Extreme Heat

Scientists warn that a two-year surge in global warmth could indicate fundamental changes to the global climate as temperatures are rising faster than anticipated.
- 2023 was the warmest year in human history, and 2024 is expected to be even warmer. Recent research suggests that factors like increased sea surface temperatures and the delayed arrival of La Niña are impacting global weather patterns.