Climate point: A low of 97 degrees isn't normal
Another week, another Climate Point about heat.
I'm Joel Shannon, the climate editor for Paste BN, and there's a good reason we keep writing about the scalding temperatures that are gripping millions of people across the nation (and the world) this summer.
First, the heat this summer really is unusual, as Beth Weise explained on Wednesday. Summer heat has warmed Phoenix so much that overnight temperatures didn't drop below 97 earlier this week, and that's just one of a slew of records broken in recent days. Experts have told us it can't all be attributed to natural variation or El Niño effects.
Another reason it's important to keep up-to-date on high temperatures: They're surprisingly dangerous. We've repeatedly reported that extreme heat is the deadliest weather-related event in the U.S. Its danger is "insidious" and deceptive.
Health reporter Adrianna Rodriguez explained it well earlier this summer: "Part of what makes a heat wave so dangerous is lack of awareness, experts say. The consequences of extreme heat aren’t as visually obvious as in other natural disasters, but they can be especially life-threatening to certain people depending on how old they are, what medical conditions they have and where they live."
But heat isn't the only story we're tracking. Here's a look at what's happening in environment and climate news around the nation:
- New Jersey: Officials at the state's Board of Public Utilities are making moves toward harnessing tidal and wave energy generation as a renewable energy source. Wave and river energy could provide 60% of the nation's power needs, according to the Department of Energy. However, the New Jersey project is still in early stages, and some experts say the potential energy is small compared to what could be tapped on the West Coast.
- New York: Green energy goals may hit logistical problems. New York City could face power outages during the summer of 2025, when fossil fuel-fired plants — trusted workhorses during heat waves — are forced to shut down as a part of the state's green energy goals. In a statement, Governor Kathy Hochul's administration expressed confidence that the state can achieve its climate goals while guarding against outages.
- Utah: A wet winter is helping the state through a hot summer. State water managers report a major improvement in reservoir storage.
- Montana: State officials are among those warning of looming danger from wildfires amid summer heat. Montana's weather has laid a wet, cool blanket across most of the state, delaying the inevitable outset of the annual fire season. But “be prepared for big change,” Northern Rockies Predictive Services Meteorologist Daniel Borsum told Gov. Greg Gianforte. “We are just getting to the cusp, and we are going to see heat waves through the end of the month,” Borsum added. “That’s going to cause a problem.”
In some good news, bald eagles in Florida are on the rebound after Hurricane Ian destroyed around 150 nests. About 70% were rebuilt — a number that was a relief, but not a surprise, according to Shawnlei Breeding, Audubon EagleWatch program manager. Hurricanes are part of nature, and bald eagles have evolved with the storms for thousands of years, since Florida emerged from the sea.
There's even more coverage of the environment from across the Paste BN Network below. For stories requiring a subscription, sign up and get access to all eNewspapers in the Paste BN network. If someone forwarded you this email and you'd like to receive Climate Point in your inbox for free once a week, sign up here.
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Contributing: Amanda Oglesby, Asbury Park Press; Thomas C. Zambito, New York State Team; David DeMille, St. George Spectrum & Daily News; David Murray, Great Falls Tribune; and Chad Gillis, Fort Myers News-Press