Climate Impact Report – 1/13

Key Facts Of The Day 1/13

Storms And Flooding

• During the last couple of days, several cities in the South experienced their largest snowstorm in years, and record totals in many cases.
  • Memphis, Tennessee, recorded 7.5 inches of snow Friday, which was not only a record for that day but also the most snow seen in the city in a single day in the last 40 years.
  • Atlanta saw 2.1 inches of snow Friday which was also a record and the most snow recorded in seven years.
  • Arkansas measured up to 14 inches of snow, Oklahoma saw up to a foot, parts of Texas reached 10 inches, and even northern Alabama saw around 5 inches from the storm.

Wildfires

• In California, 3 fires have burned 38,629 acres as of Monday.
  • As of Monday, the Palisades Fire has burned 23,713 acres and is 14% contained.
    • The Palisades fire is the most destructive ever to hit Los Angeles County.
    • The Palisades fire is expected to be the costliest wildfire in U.S. history.
  • As of Monday, the Eaton Fire has burned 14,117 acres and is 13% contained. 
  • As of Monday, the Hurst Fire has burned 799 acres and is 95% contained.
  • The wildfires are estimated to cost between $135 billion and $150 billion.
  • A red flag warning is in place for parts of the city and county, with wind gusts of up to 70 mph forecast between 4 a.m. Tuesday and noon Wednesday — strong enough to potentially cause “explosive fire growth.”
  • At least 24 people have died, and dozens still missing due to the California wildfires. 
  • More than 100,000 Los Angeles County residents are under evacuation orders, and some 87,000 are under evacuation warnings.
  • The Cal Fire battalion chief said that the entire region, from Ventura to San Diego, should prepare for possible evacuation orders.
  • The FEMA administrator said that clearing wildfire debris will take more than six months.
  • Dozens of restaurants have offered up free meals to those impacted by the Los Angeles County fires, and some of them are still helping first responders and displaced people.

Extreme Heat

• Climate change is causing more rapid swings between intensely wet and dangerously dry weather.