Colorado Climate Disaster Risk
June 5, 2020
TL/DR:
Trump has failed to prepare us for disasters caused by climate change. What does this mean
for Colorado?
- With increased temperatures this summer, the risk of wildfire in Colorado is extreme.
- As temperatures rise due to climate change, the severity, frequency and extent
of wildfires increases - Colorado will be at an elevated risk of wildfires in July.
- Since 2009, wildfires caused $33.4 billion in damages and 141 deaths across
the Southwest.
- As temperatures rise due to climate change, the severity, frequency and extent
- Extreme heat and drought fueled by climate change threatens Coloradans lives and
costs billions of dollars:- As the atmosphere traps more heat from the sun, extreme heat and drought are
exacerbated. - Due to below average rainfall, drought conditions are expected to persist or
increase across swaths of the Western U.S. this season. The current drought in
Colorado began in 2000. - Since 2009, drought & extreme heat caused $63 billion in damages and 271
deaths across the Southwest. Currently, 31% of Coloradans, or 1,577,000
people, inhabit places in abnormal drought conditions.
- As the atmosphere traps more heat from the sun, extreme heat and drought are
- In addition to wildfires, droughts and extreme heat, Coloradans also face increased risk of flooding and storms due to climate change:
- Severe storms have been linked to climate change, as hotter air carries more moisture, leading to more frequent and more intense storms:
- Studies show one-third of the lower 48 states face flooding risks due to severe storms. AccuWeather also forecasts an above average number of tornadoes in 2020.
- Since 2009, storms have caused $20 billion in damages and 12 deaths across the Southwest.
- Across the Southwest, climate change exacerbates flooding through increased heavy precipitation, increased snowmelt, and sea level rise
- More frequent heavy storms may cause increased flooding across the US, even in regions experiencing drought.
- Since 2009, flooding caused $4.5 billion in damages and 40 deaths across the Southwest.