Climate Impact Report – 10/31

October 31, 2024

Key Facts Of The Day 10/31

As of Wednesday, there were 101 confirmed Hurricane Helene-related fatalities in North Carolina.
Hundreds of thousands of people impacted by natural disasters across the country have been unable to get through to FEMA call centers or have stayed on hold for excessive periods of time due to staffing shortages in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
On Wednesday, over 5 million people in the central U.S. were under a level 3 of 5 threat for severe thunderstorms, including those in Kansas City and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- On Wednesday night, parts of Oklahoma experienced severe hail storms and thunderstorms with up to 80 mph wind gusts.
A new report found that tropical cyclones can cause anywhere from 7,000 to 11,000 excess deaths in affected communities up to 15 years after the event.
- Researchers expect that storm-related fatalities from recent storms like Hurricanes Helene and Milton will continue to be reported until 2039.
A new study found that the ten deadliest weather disasters since 2004, which were responsible for at least 570,000 deaths, were intensified by global warming and the burning of fossil fuels.

As of Thursday, 21 large active wildfires have burned 883,318 acres across CA, CT, ID, MA, MI, MO, NM, OK, OR, TX, UT, and WY. This year to date, 46,784 wildfires have burned 7,992,195 acres across the country.
In California, 1 fire has burned 5,124 acres as of Thursday.
In Connecticut, 1 fire has burned 127 acres as of Thursday.
In Idaho, 1 fire has burned 355 acres as of Thursday.
In Massachusetts, 2 fires have burned 303 acres as of Thursday.
In Michigan, 1 fire has burned 304 acres as of Thursday.
In Missouri, 3 fires has burned 1,512 acres as of Thursday.
In New Mexico, 1 fire has burned 316 acres as of Thursday.
In Oklahoma, 7 fires have burned 22,439 acres as of Thursday.
In Oregon, 1 fire has burned 176,661 acres as of Thursday.
In Texas, 1 fire has burned 431 acres as of Thursday.
In Utah, 1 fire has burned 33,045 acres as of Thursday.
In Wyoming, 2 fires have burned 188,282 acres as of Thursday.

A recent study developed a new systemic method for assessing climate change’s role in extreme heat events.
- The researchers concluded that a summer 2023 heat wave over Texas, Louisiana, and surrounding areas was longer and hotter than historical heat events due to human-caused warming.
A recent report found that fall temperatures have warmed by 2.5°F on average across the U.S. since 1970.
- The report also found that October nights have warmed in 216 U.S. cities by 3.3°F on average since 1970.
- Fall warming can disrupt leaf-peeping and extend allergy and wildfire smoke seasons.