Climate Impact Report – 5/16

Key Facts Of The Day 5/16

Storms and Flooding

• A line of severe storms late Thursday night and into early Friday morning left behind significant damage in Mid-Michigan.
  • More than 250,000 Michigan customers lost power due to a severe storm overnight May 15-16.
  • Genesee, Saginaw, Bay, Midland, and Tuscola counties have areas still waiting for power restoration.
  • The National Weather Service said wind gusts associated with a line of thunderstorms that moved across Michigan late Thursday reached 75 mph in Battle Creek. Other reports included 66 mph gusts in Kalamazoo and 61 mph in Lansing and Grand Rapids.
  • There was a possible tornado threat, but it hasn’t been confirmed yet as of early Friday.
  • The storms damaged power lines, uprooted sidewalks and trees, and severely damaged homes.

Wildfires

• As of Friday, the Camp House fire in Minnesota burned over 14,852 acres and was 0% contained.
•  As of Friday, the Jenkins Creek fire in Minnesota burned over 15,571 acres and was 0% contained.
•  As of Thursday, the Munger-Shaw fire in Minnesota burned over 1,600 acres and was 25% contained.

Extreme Heat

• Texas was hit by a heatwave, with record-breaking temperatures sweeping across the central and southern regions of the state.
  • While 100-degree days are common in Texas summers, such early-season heat is unusual. 
  • Texas has been recently hotter than Death Valley, California, which is often cited as the hottest place on Earth.
  • Electricity use peaked at over 78,000 megawatts by Wednesday afternoon, a new May record.