Climate Impact Report – 3/28

March 28, 2024

Key Facts Of The Day 3/28

Parts of the Midwest saw as much as 24 inches of snow and rain by Wednesday morning.
An unusually cold, dynamic storm is expected to hit California from Friday through Sunday.
- 1 to 2 feet of snow is possible, particularly in the Southern Sierra Nevada and the San Bernardino Mountains.
- By Saturday, the storm will soak Southern California, and some local flash flooding, rockslides, and mudslides are possible.

The dry conditions and overall lack of snow cover threaten to extend the Midwest region’s spring wildfire season well into the end of the year.
- Wisconsin battled hundreds of blazes weeks before the start of peak fire season.
- Firefighters in Michigan also battled early blazes following last year’s hot, dry conditions and the mild conditions this winter.
A 2024 study found that North Carolina saw the second-biggest increase in wildfire acreage in 2023.
- In 2022, North Carolina saw 11,181 acres burned, but in 2023 that number jumped to 70,339 acres.

Phoenix, Arizona, passed a landmark rule this week that will provide protection from extreme heat for thousands of outdoor workers.
- The rule requires employers to provide access to rest, shade, water, and air conditioning, as well as training on recognizing signs of heat stress.
- The rule applies to city contractors and their subcontractors who work outdoors, including construction and airport workers.
- The rule would also ensure access to air conditioning in the driver compartment of vehicles by no later than 1 May 2025.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, was 10.2 degrees warmer than average during December 2022 and February 2023.
- Minneapolis averages 37.1 inches of snow during meteorological winter, but this winter, it only got 11.1 inches.
A March 2024 study found that the melting of polar ice due to global warming is affecting Earth’s rotation and could have an impact on precision timekeeping.