Climate Impact Report – 6/12

Key Facts Of The Day 6/12

Hurricanes And Storms

• On Thursday, nearly 24 million people in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma were under flash flood or flood warnings. 
  • As of Thursday morning, some areas in Houston, Texas, had reported up to four to seven inches of rainfall, causing severe flooding. 
  • An additional three to five inches of rain were forecast in eastern Texas through Friday. 
  • As of Thursday morning, 55,220 customers were without power in Texas. 
  • By Thursday night, heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and severe thunderstorms were expected to spread from New Mexico and Texas to Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. 
  • Repeated downpours this week are forecast to bring rainfall totals of eight to twelve inches in some localized areas. 
  • Heavy rainfall through the end of the week is expected to cause flooding along the San Antonio, Neches, Trinity, Brazos, Angelina, and Sabine rivers, as well as the Bayou Dorcheat.
• As of Thursday, three storm-related deaths were reported in San Antonio, Texas, after heavy rainfall led to severe flash flooding. 
  • As of Thursday morning, San Antonio had already received about six inches of rain, more than the city’s average rainfall for June and July combined. 
  • More than two dozen roads in San Antonio were shut down on Thursday due to severe floods. 

Wildfires

• As of Thursday, the Rowena Fire had burned 2,500 acres and was 0% contained. 
  • The Rowena Fire broke out in Wasco County, Oregon, on Wednesday afternoon.
  • As of Thursday, more than 800 homes were under evacuation orders.
    • An additional 2,500 homes were under evacuation warnings or advisories. These warnings included parts of The Dalles, the county’s largest city. 
  • On Wednesday, wind gusts that reached up to 40 mph helped fuel the fire.
    • On Thursday, wind gusts are expected to reach up to 30 mph, challenging fire crews.
  • Wasco County experienced record-breaking temperatures that have worsened fire conditions. 
    • On Monday, temperatures in The Dalles hit a high of 101 degrees Fahrenheit, breaking a daily record that was set in 1955. 

Extreme Heat

• A recent study found that since 1970, average summer minimum temperatures in U.S. cities have increased on average by 3.1 degrees Fahrenheit. 
  • U.S. cities experience, on average, about 27 warmer-than-normal summer nights. Researchers cited human-induced climate change as a key factor in warmer summer nights. 
  • Researchers also found that the top five cities with the largest increases in climate change-fueled warm summer nights were all in Florida.