Climate Impact Report – 1/7

Key Facts Of The Day 1/7

Storms And Flooding

• At least five people have died in a winter storm that has hit the U.S.
  • In Missouri, the state’s highway patrol said at least 365 people had crashed on Sunday, leaving dozens injured and at least one dead.
  • In Kansas, one of the worst-hit states, local news reported that two people were killed in a car crash during the storm.
  • In Houston, Texas, a person was found dead from cold weather in front of a bus stop on Monday morning.
  • In Virginia, where 300 car crashes were reported between midnight and Monday morning, authorities warned local residents to avoid driving in large parts of the state. At least one motorist was killed.
• Seven U.S. states declared emergencies due to the winter storm: Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, and Arkansas.
• More than 2,300 flights have been canceled, with nearly 9,000 delays also reported owing to the extreme weather caused by the polar vortex of icy cold air that usually circles the North Pole.
• In Washington, DC, about 5-9 inches of snow fell, with up to a foot recorded in parts of nearby Maryland and Virginia.
• One of the country’s biggest citrus growers is walking away from the business, in part due to unrelenting hurricane damage in Florida.
  • Alico Inc. says its citrus production has plummeted by 73% in just 10 years.

Wildfires

• As of Friday, January 3, 1 large active wildfire has burned 1,352 acres across AZ. 
• As of Friday, the Horton Fire in Arizona has burned 1,352 acres and is 17% contained.
• Forecasters warned that a significant Santa Ana wind event this week could help wildfires spread quickly and erratically.
  • Utility companies said they may pre-emptively cut off power to some customers.
    • San Diego Gas and Electric Company said it was considering shutting off power to more than 64,000 customers as early as noon on Tuesday.
    • Southern California Edison said it was considering cutting off nearly 300,000 customers, one of its largest pre-emptive outages ever.
• A new study found that wildfire smoke has minimal impact on the nation’s solar panels.

Extreme Heat

• A new study found that climate change is also hurting apple production in the U.S., especially in Washington, Michigan, and New York.
  • When temperatures exceed 93 degrees Fahrenheit, apple trees face stress that can lead to sunburn on the fruit, reducing apple quality and marketability.
  • Prolonged exposure to such heat can also impair tree health and productivity.