Climate Impact Report – 7/17

Key Facts Of The Day 7/17

Central Texas Flooding

• As of Thursday, the death toll from the catastrophic Central Texas flooding rose to 134 confirmed deaths, and 101 people remained missing.

Storms and Flooding

• On Thursday, millions of people along the Gulf Coast were at risk for additional heavy rainfall and severe flooding due to a tropical system that may form into the fourth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.
  • Louisiana faces the greatest risk for dangerous flash flooding. It was expected to receive up to a foot of rain with rainfall rates of up to two to three inches per hour. 
  • On Thursday, a level three of four risk of flooding was in place for south-central Louisiana. 
  • On Thursday, a level two of four risk of flooding was in place along the Gulf Coast from east Texas to the western Florida Panhandle. 
  • On Wednesday, New Orleans city officials opened several sandbag distribution sites, and on Thursday, all city buildings were closed to the public. 
• Starting Thursday, rounds of heavy thunderstorms are expected from southern Nebraska to part of western Michigan.
  • Parts of the Midwest are forecast to receive one to four inches of rain, with some areas seeing as much as 13 inches by the end of the weekend. 
  • The thunderstorms are also expected to create a risk of flash flooding and travel delays throughout the weekend. 

Wildfires

• As of Thursday, 108 large active wildfires have burned 1,104,517 acres across AK, AZ, CA, CO, FL, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, SD, UT, and WA. This year to date, 40,431 wildfires have burned 2,647,028 acres across the country.
  • In Alaska, 65 fires have burned 732,745 acres as of Thursday. 
  • In Arizona, 3 fires have burned 61,478 acres as of Thursday.
    • As of Thursday, the Dragon Bravo Fire had burned 11,012 acres and was 0% contained. 
    • As of Thursday, the White Sage Fire had burned 58,558 acres and was 9% contained. 
  • In California, 6 fires have burned 106,050 acres as of Thursday. 
  • In Colorado, 4 fires have burned 14,914 acres as of Thursday. 
  • In Idaho, 4 fires have burned 2,703 acres as of Thursday. 
  • In Montana, 1 fire has burned 124 acres as of Thursday. 
  • In Nevada, 4 fires have burned 44,495 acres as of Thursday. 
  • In New Mexico, 3 fires have burned 40,321 acres as of Thursday. 
  • In Oregon, 7 fires have burned 47,054 acres as of Thursday.
    • As of Thursday, the Cram Fire had burned 64,295 acres and was 0% contained.
      • On Wednesday, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency as more than 200 people in two counties remained under evacuation orders or warnings. 
      • On Wednesday night, the fire grew to 64,295 acres from 41,377 acres.
      • As of Thursday, the Cram Fire was threatening about 430 structures, including nearly 300 homes.
  • In South Dakota, 1 fire has burned 1,100 acres as of Thursday. 
  • In Utah, 4 fires have burned 35,110 acres as of Thursday. 
  • In Washington, 6 fires have burned 18,423 acres as of Thursday.

Extreme Heat

• This weekend, hot, dry air is expected to create feels-like temperatures of 100 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit across Central Texas. 
• A heat wave is expected to impact millions of people across the central and southern United States starting this weekend.
  • A high risk of extreme heat is forecast through next week, with the Mid-Mississippi and lower Ohio Valleys and the Mid-South region expected to see the highest temperatures. 
• Experts warn that the World Cup and other soccer tournaments in the Northern Hemisphere summer may have to consider adjusting their calendar to reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses, as climate change-induced warming poses health risks for players and spectators.
  • Researchers have found that since 1930, summer temperatures in the northern hemisphere have increased by 1.1 degrees Celsius.