Climate Impact Report – 5/15

May 15, 2025

Key Facts Of The Day 5/15

On Thursday, a weeklong severe weather threat continues as millions of people in major Midwest cities like Chicago, Illinois, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, brace for powerful storms that could pack very large hail, hurricane-force wind gusts, and strong tornadoes.

As of Thursday, the Camp House fire in Minnesota burned over 14,979 acres and was 0% contained.
As of Thursday, the Jenkins Creek fire in Minnesota burned over 20,593 acres and was 0% contained.
As of Thursday, the Munger-Shaw fire in Minnesota burned over 1,700 acres and was 0% contained.
On Monday, Gov. Tim Walz activated the Minnesota National Guard and its helicopters to aid the fire fight.
About 1,000 homes have been evacuated between the three fires in Minnesota.

An early-season heat dome is building over the Gulf of Mexico and will bring a week of unusual heat and humidity to southern states.
- On Wednesday, it reached 112 degrees in the southern part of Texas, equaling the highest temperature observed in the United States so far this year.
- The epicenter of the heat dome will be Texas, where forecasts suggest some counties may surpass 90 degrees every day for the rest of the month.
- Cities including San Antonio and Austin may top 100 degrees for a week straight.
- Parts of Florida are forecast to have a dozen days above 90 degrees through the end of the month.