Climate Impact Report – 5/13

Key Facts Of The Day 5/13

Storms and Flooding

• On Tuesday, a storm system that had been impacting the South for days was forecast to move eastward, threatening the mid-Atlantic with flash flooding. 
  • On Tuesday, flood watches were issued for parts of North Carolina to Virginia, western Maryland, and south-central Pennsylvania. 
  • In areas still recovering from Hurricane Helene, the forecast rainfall was expected to trigger flooding due to damaged infrastructure. 
•  Recent studies suggest that climate change is shifting the traditional “Tornado Alley” to the east. 
  • Researchers found that a new tornado-prone area called the “Dixie Alley” has experienced a significant increase in tornadoes over the past several years. The area encompasses Mississippi, Alabama, and western Tennessee.

Wildfires

• On Saturday, the Camp House Fire erupted in Brimson, Minnesota, causing several dozen residents to evacuate. 
  • As of Monday evening, the fire had destroyed at least 40 structures. 
  • On Monday, Governor Tim Walz authorized the Minnesota National Guard to help fight the Camp House fire.
  • As of Monday, the Camp House Fire had burned 1,250 acres and was 0% contained. 
• On Monday, the Jenkins Creek Fire erupted near Hoyt Lakes, just north of the Camp House wildfire. 
  • As of Monday, the Jenkins Creek Fire had burned 1,500 acres. 
• On Monday, a third fire, the Munger Shaw Fire, also broke out in northern Minnesota.
• On Tuesday, 65 of Minnesota’s 87 counties were issued red flag warnings due to high winds and low humidity. 

Extreme Heat

• On Tuesday and Wednesday, more than six million people in Texas are expected to be under heat advisories in an early-season heat wave. 
  • Several Texas cities are expected to break record-high temperatures on Wednesday. 
    • Austin is forecast to hit a high of 107 degrees Fahrenheit. 
    • San Antonio is forecast to reach at least 103 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Del Rio is forecast to hit a high of 110 degrees Fahrenheit. 
  • The unseasonably high temperatures are expected to stress Texas’ power grid with record or near-record demand. 
  • Human-caused climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme heat events. 
    • Climate change has made San Antonio’s forecast high temperature on Wednesday about five times more likely than it would have been without fossil fuel pollution.