Climate Impact Report – 11/20

November 20, 2024

Key Facts Of The Day 11/20

A bomb cyclone with atmospheric river continues to pummel areas from Washington to Oregon and Northern California with torrential rain, heavy mountain snow, and high winds this week.
- As of Wednesday morning, almost 600,000 utility customers were without power in Washington due to the high winds taking down trees, tree limbs, and power lines.
- As of Tuesday night, at least one person was killed, and 2 people were injured by falling trees in Washington.
- The storm was predicted to produce as much as 20% of the rainfall the region would expect in a year.
- Forecasters said Wednesday will be the most intense day for the Bay Area, California.
- Forecasters have issued a rare “high risk” of excessive rainfall on Thursday for parts of northwest California, where more than 16 inches of rain could fall.
Climate change increased the maximum wind speeds of every Atlantic hurricane that formed this year.
- All 11 storms intensified between 9 and 28 miles per hour under the influence of warmer-than-average ocean temperatures.
- Hurricanes Debby and Oscar likely would have remained tropical storms in a world without climate change.

As of Friday, 5 large active wildfires have burned 238,989 acres across CA, MA, NC, and WV. This year to date, 50,276 wildfires have burned 8,109,693 acres across the country.
In California, 1 fire has burned 19,904 acres as of Friday.
In Massachusetts, 2 fires have burned 555 acres as of Friday.
In North Carolina, 1 fire has burned 175 acres as of Friday.
In West Virginia, 1 fire has burned 210 acres as of Friday.
Statewide burn bans prohibiting campfires and burning trash or leaves are now in effect across a broad swath of the Northeast because of the increased fire risk.
Red flag warnings indicating fire danger, which are common in the West, currently cover all of Massachusetts.

For the first time in 22 years, New York City is under a drought warning — the last step before a disaster declaration could impose mandatory water restrictions.
- The drought warning extends beyond the city and includes 10 counties encompassing much of the Hudson Valley.
According to UNICEF’s 2024 State of the World report, eight times as many children around the world will be exposed to extreme heat waves by the 2050s (compared to the 2000s) if current trends in greenhouse gas emissions, climate mitigation and adaptation, and economic growth continue.