logo
Indiana's climate change anxiety

Indiana's climate change anxiety

Axios21-04-2025

When it comes to climate change, a new study reveals that many Hoosiers outside of Indy aren't sweating it.
The big picture: Climate anxiety is concentrated in many large U.S. metros and some coastal regions.
About 63.3% of U.S. adults overall are "somewhat" or "very" worried about global warming as of 2024, per survey data from Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.
The findings paint a stark picture of how attitudes toward climate change vary by location.
Zoom in: Marion County residents are slightly more concerned about climate change than the national average, with a state-leading 66% of residents saying they are "somewhat" or "very" worried.
Monroe is the only other Indiana county concerned about climate change at a rate higher than the national average at 65%. Residents in Boone (56%) and Hamilton (54%) counties are slightly less concerned.
In 59 of Indiana's 92 counties, fewer than 50% of residents say they're worried about climate change.
Zoom out: Some of the U.S. counties with especially high shares of adults worried about global warming — like Queens, New York (79.8%) — are coastal areas vulnerable to climate-driven threats like flooding.
They also tend to be relatively populous, with 4 of the 10 most-worried counties having at least 1 million residents.
Many major metro areas, like Columbus, Ohio, and Salt Lake City, Utah, also show up on the map above as pockets of relatively higher climate concern compared to surrounding areas.
What they're saying: While the map above may look like a sea of purple, "it's crucial to remind people that the vast majority of the population exists in some of these green places," says Jennifer Marlon, executive director of the Yale Center for Geospatial Solutions and senior research scientist at the Yale School of the Environment.
Between the lines: Individual attitudes about climate change are not based entirely (or perhaps even primarily) on local risk, with politics, education, and other factors playing big roles.
Threat level: In Indiana, studies show that human-driven climate change is making rainstorms in Indianapolis more intense.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

NOAA predicts ‘above normal' Atlantic hurricane season. CT experts say outlook is a call to action.
NOAA predicts ‘above normal' Atlantic hurricane season. CT experts say outlook is a call to action.

Yahoo

time21 hours ago

  • Yahoo

NOAA predicts ‘above normal' Atlantic hurricane season. CT experts say outlook is a call to action.

Experts are predicting the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season to be 'above-normal' this year, as scientists say warm sea surface temperatures may lead to more frequent and intense storms, urging those along the East Coast to be prepared. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association said the outlook for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, predicts a 30% chance of a near-normal season, a 60% chance of an above-normal season and a 10% chance of a below-normal season, according to officials. Hurricanes, fueled by warm ocean waters and thunderstorms, often form at sea and then move toward land where they can cause catastrophic damage and loss of life, according to Dr. Jennifer Marlon, senior research scientist at the Yale School of the Environment. According to NOAA, the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season produced 18 named storms. Of those, 11 became hurricanes and five strengthened into major hurricanes. Bob Child / ASSOCIATED PRESSThese boats broke from their moorings and were blown onto rocks in New London, Connecticut on Friday, Sept. 27, 1985, during Hurricane Gloria. Winds of more than 90 miles per hour battered Connecticut's coast during the storm, but damage was minimal. John Long / Hartford CourantScenes like this one, at Groton Long Point during Hurricane Gloria last Sept, may become more common in CT as the green house effect causes the sea level to rise. Michael McAndrews / Hartford CourantHurricane Gloria's damage seen on the shoreline in Milford. Stephen Dunn / Hartford CourantHurricane Gloria hit the coast line hard sending dozens of pleasure boats up onto the railroad tracks looking like parallel parked cars in Stonington. Show CaptionBob Child / ASSOCIATED PRESS1 of 5Boats lie on the shore in Milford harbor on Sunday, Sept. 29, 1985, two days after Hurricane Gloria hit Connecticut. The same thing happened to boats all along the Connecticut more as they were torn from moorings by the hurricane winds in excess of 90 NOAA is forecasting 13 to 19 named storms this year with winds of 39 mph or higher. Of those, six to 10 are expected to reach hurricane strength, officials said. 'The projected above-normal activity is due to warm sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Atlantic (Ocean),' said Marlon. NOAA said that additional factors including weaker winds and the potential for higher activity from the West African Monsoon, a primary starting point for Atlantic hurricanes, is another reason for the projection. All of these elements tend to favor tropical storm formation. The higher heat on the ocean surface provides more energy to fuel storm development, while weaker winds allow the storms to develop without disruption, Marlon said. 'In my 30 years at the National Weather Service, we've never had more advanced models and warning systems in place to monitor the weather,' said NOAA's National Weather Service director Ken Graham. 'This outlook is a call to action. Be prepared. Take proactive steps now to make a plan and gather supplies to ensure you're ready before a storm threatens.' The last hurricane to make landfall in Connecticut was Category 1 hurricane Gloria in 1985 that brought heavy rainfall and winds of 74–95 miles per hour, according to NOAA. The commonly called 'storm of the century' killed at least six people, caused power outages for about 700,000 residents, and was considered the worst hurricane to hit Connecticut since 1938. Connecticut has been impacted by several strong tropical storms over the past few decades. Tropical Storm Irene impacted the state in August 2011. As a result of its 96 miles of coastline, some Connecticut towns are subject to storm surges during major weather events. While it was a hurricane initially, it weakened to a tropical storm by the time it hit the state. Hurricane Sandy hit Connecticut in 2012, but it was also not a hurricane by the time it reached the state. Tropical Storm Isaias, which hit the state in 2020, caused widespread power outages and over $50 million in damage. The names in the 2025 hurricane season are Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dexter, Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Imelda, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van, and Wendy, according to the National Hurricane Center. Recommendations from the National Weather Service include understanding whether your home is vulnerable to storm surge, flooding, or wind and this should be checked long before any storm might hit. Know your zone: Find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation area by contacting your local government/emergency management office or by checking the evacuation site website. Because of the coastline along Long Island Sound, Connecticut has multiple evacuation areas, data shows, Assemble Emergency Kit: Put together a basic emergency. Check emergency equipment, such as flashlights, generators and storm shutters. Have a Family Emergency Plan: Before an emergency happens, sit down with your family or close friends and decide how you will get in contact with each other, where you will go, and what you will do in an emergency. Keep a copy of this plan in your emergency supplies kit or another safe place where you can access it in the event of a disaster. Start at the emergency plan webpage. Review insurance 'policies to ensure that you have adequate coverage for your home and personal property.' Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@

When will it warm up in Central Indiana? 80-degree temps are coming soon
When will it warm up in Central Indiana? 80-degree temps are coming soon

Yahoo

time27-05-2025

  • Yahoo

When will it warm up in Central Indiana? 80-degree temps are coming soon

While Memorial Day weekend traditionally signals the unofficial start of summer, early spring-like weather is clinging to Central Indiana. Temperatures over the past several days have ranged in the upper 50s to the low 70s — not exactly ideal conditions for cannonballing into the many outdoor public pools now open across Indianapolis. The National Weather Service predicts cool and rainy weather will persist Tuesday through Friday, which might have some Hoosiers wondering when summer will begin? Here's what we know about when things could warm up. As of Tuesday, meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Indianapolis predict temperatures will climb into the 80s beginning Saturday. The high is expected to reach 81 with a low of 58 on Saturday night. Story continues after photo gallery. The extended weather forecast for central Indiana is as follows: 🌧️☁️Tuesday: Scattered showers, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 68. East wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. 🌧️☁️ Tuesday night: Scattered showers, mainly before 10 p.m.. Cloudy, with a low around 58. East northeast wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. 🌧️⛈️☁️ Wednesday: A chance of showers between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m.. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Light and variable wind becoming northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%. ☁️ Wednesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. 🌧️⛅ Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 74. Northwest wind 3 to 6 mph. ⛈️☁️ Thursday night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 20%. 🌧️🌤️ Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph. 🌙 Friday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. West wind around 7 mph. 🌧️☀️ Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 2 p.m.. Sunny, with a high near 81. West northwest wind 6 to 9 mph. 🌧️☁️ Saturday night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 2 a.m.. Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Northwest wind 3 to 7 mph. 🌧️🌤️ Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. 🌙 Sunday night: A 10 percent chance of showers. Mostly clear, with a low around 60. ☀️ Monday: Sunny, with a high near 84. More about public pools: These Central Indiana pools and waterparks opened Memorial Day weekend. John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at JTufts@ Find him on BlueSky at JohnWritesStuff. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: When will it warm up in Indianapolis? 80-degree weather forecast soon

When will it warm up in Central Indiana? 80-degree temps are coming soon
When will it warm up in Central Indiana? 80-degree temps are coming soon

Indianapolis Star

time27-05-2025

  • Indianapolis Star

When will it warm up in Central Indiana? 80-degree temps are coming soon

While Memorial Day weekend traditionally signals the unofficial start of summer, early spring-like weather is clinging to Central Indiana. Temperatures over the past several days have ranged in the upper 50s to the low 70s — not exactly ideal conditions for cannonballing into the many outdoor public pools now open across Indianapolis. The National Weather Service predicts cool and rainy weather will persist Tuesday through Friday, which might have some Hoosiers wondering when summer will begin? Here's what we know about when things could warm up. As of Tuesday, meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Indianapolis predict temperatures will climb into the 80s beginning Saturday. The high is expected to reach 81 with a low of 58 on Saturday night. Story continues after photo gallery. The extended weather forecast for central Indiana is as follows: 🌧️☁️Tuesday: Scattered showers, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 68. East wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. 🌧️☁️ Tuesday night: Scattered showers, mainly before 10 p.m.. Cloudy, with a low around 58. East northeast wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. 🌧️⛈️☁️ Wednesday: A chance of showers between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m.. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Light and variable wind becoming northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%. ☁️ Wednesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. 🌧️⛅ Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 74. Northwest wind 3 to 6 mph. ⛈️☁️ Thursday night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 20%. 🌧️🌤️ Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph. 🌙 Friday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. West wind around 7 mph. 🌧️☀️ Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 2 p.m.. Sunny, with a high near 81. West northwest wind 6 to 9 mph. 🌧️☁️ Saturday night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 2 a.m.. Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Northwest wind 3 to 7 mph. 🌧️🌤️ Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. 🌙 Sunday night: A 10 percent chance of showers. Mostly clear, with a low around 60. ☀️ Monday: Sunny, with a high near 84. More about public pools: These Central Indiana pools and waterparks opened Memorial Day weekend.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store