Climate Impact Report – 5/12

Key Facts Of The Day 5/12

Storms and Flooding

• On Monday, about 36 million people across the southeastern U.S. were at risk of severe thunderstorms, damaging winds and hail, and potential tornadoes. 
  • The 1,000-mile-long storm was expected to impact a dozen states from the Gulf Coast to Virginia. 
  • Portions of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama were forecast to see up to two months’ worth of rain, up to ten inches, this week. 
  • Flood watches were issued in Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Alabama, and the Carolinas, with rainfall amounts of four to eight inches possible in the hardest-hit areas through Tuesday. 
  • Some of the heaviest downpours were forecast to hit areas devastated by Hurricane Helene. 
  • On Monday, severe weather left more than 20,000 homes and businesses without power in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. 

Wildfires

• On Monday, critical fire weather conditions were expected across portions of Arizona, New Mexico, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. 

Extreme Heat

• On Sunday, temperatures across California hit 15 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit above historical averages. 
  • On Saturday, downtown Los Angeles reached a high temperature of 99 degrees Fahrenheit, the hottest day of the year so far, and it broke the previous daily record set in 1934.
• The northern Plains are expected to see temperatures as high as 30 to 40 degrees above the historical average through Thursday
  • The high temperatures, gusty winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation are expected to increase the risk of wildfires. 
• A recent analysis found that the rate of annual sea level rise has more than doubled in recent years, resulting in the global sea level increasing four inches since 1993.