Climate Impact Report – 4/3

Key Facts Of The Day 4/3

Storms And Flooding

• On Wednesday evening, dozens of tornadoes broke out in the central U.S., killing at least four people and destroying homes.
  • The storms killed at least three people in Tennessee and one in Missouri.
  • More than 3.6 million people are under flash flood warnings in Tennessee and northern Mississippi.
  • As of Wednesday morning, nearly 300 tornado warnings have been issued across 15 states.
  • On Thursday, a rare level 4 of 4 high risk of flooding rainfall is in place for portions of the Mississippi and Ohio valleys.
  • Gigantic hills of debris remain after several homes were ripped apart Wednesday evening by a tornado.

Wildfires

• As of Thursday, the Table Rock Fire had burned 13,210 acres in South Carolina and was 91% contained. 
• As of Thursday, the Persimmon Ridge Fire had burned 2,078 acres and was 99% contained.  
• As of Thursday, the Silver Fire has burned 1,611 acres in California and is 85% contained.
  • The Silver Fire forced residents of about 800 homes in Inyo County to evacuate. 
  • The Silver Fire also remains an active threat to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, which has some of the oldest known trees, including Methuselah, an almost 5,000-year-old bristlecone pine and the world’s oldest living organism.

Extreme Heat

• In 2024, Ohio faced its most severe drought in a century as central and southeastern regions went weeks on end without rain.
  • After the severe drought, Ohio faced intense storms impacting the soil health of farmers. 
• Austin’s Office of the City Auditor found that the city is not fully prepared to deal with extreme heat. 
• Widespread layoffs this week at the Department of Health and Human Services have dismantled programs aimed at keeping Americans safe from extreme heat and other climate-driven weather.