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Axios
3 days ago
- Science
- Axios
New "State of the Climate" report delivers sobering and stunning data
An array of climate metrics hit fresh records in 2024, a major new report with contributions from hundreds of scientists worldwide shows. Why it matters: The annual "State of the Climate" is among the most comprehensive looks at global warming's many effects, both worldwide and by region. Threat level: One takeaway from the peer-reviewed study — published by the American Meteorological Society — is that it's not (just) the heat, but the humidity, with multiple humidity indicators setting new marks. Stunning stat:"The global average number of high humid heat days ... over land reached a record of 35.6 days more than normal in 2024, surpassing the previous record set in 2023 by 9.5 days," says a summary from the U.K. Met Office meteorological service. That metric refers to days when the "wet-bulb temperature" exceeded 90% of normal levels. "Wet bulb" refers to combinations of heat, humidity and other factors that hinder the body's ability to cool itself through sweat. "Such a dramatic increase in the occurrence of these humid-heat events is bringing more societies into challenging, potentially life-threatening situations," said Kate Willett, a Met Office scientist and co-author of the humidity sections. The big picture: A few more high-level takeaways... Atmospheric concentrations of the major planet-warming gases — CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide — hit new highs. CO2 is now 52% above preindustrial levels. 2024 was the hottest year in records dating back to the mid-1800s, beating out 2023, and "[t]he last 10 years (2015–24) are now the warmest 10 in the instrumental record." Canada, the U.S. and Mexico all saw their warmest years. State of play:"The annual sea surface temperature was the highest in the 171-year record, marking the second year in a row that the global ocean set such a record." Air temps in the Arctic were the second-highest in 125 years of records, while the maximum reach of Arctic sea ice was the second-smallest in 46 years of satellite observations. What we're watching:"Unfortunately, it looks like we are seeing yet another year of extreme weather," said Laura Stevens, the climate scientist who edited report sections on North America.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wildfires continue to burn in Hays and Blanco Counties
The Brief Wildfires continue to burn in Hays and Blanco Counties On March 4, there were two reported wildfires in Hays County. On March 5, another fire was reported Blanco County has one wildfire that is nearly contained TEXAS - Wildfires continue to burn in Hays and Blanco Counties. Officials caution the risk of new fires remains elevated, with the Hays County Judge issuing a burn ban late Wednesday. The backstory As of Wednesday, March 5, the Onion Creek Fire near Buda has burned an estimated 190 acres and is 80% contained. A new fire started Wednesday afternoon west of Wimberley off Ranch Road 2325. So far, five acres have burned, and the fire is 95% contained. In Blanco County, the Klett Fire has burned 101 acres and is 95% contained. It is off of US 290 west of Johnson City, and was also fueled by the wind. So far, there is no word on the causes of these fires. What they're saying After a scary few hours for residents in part of Hays County, the Texas A&M Forest reported Wednesday that they've made major progress in getting the Onion Creek Fire under control. "The crews worked late into the night. They continued conception of the fire line, and right now we are engaging in heavy mop up," said Laura Stevens, a public information officer with the Texas A&M Forest Service. "We're making sure active flames are extinguished." The fire started early Tuesday evening in the Ruby Ranch area off FM 967, with Hays County evacuating residents and businesses in the area. "We got a few texts saying that we needed to evacuate, so we went ahead and booked our guest some hotel rooms nearby and got then evacuated off the property," said Brad Burkart, general manager of the nearby Sage Hill Inn & Spa. Dozens of firefighters responded, with Travis County STAR Flight battling the flames from above, and Austin Fire Department wildfire crews called in as well. The weather did not help matters. "One of the challenges with this fire is the windy conditions," said Stevens. "And then also it is rocky hilly terrain." About 150 acres were burned, but no structures were damaged and no one was hurt. Those evacuated were given the all-clear to return. The remaining flames Wednesday were in a wooded area on a property belonging to Austin Water. "We are not expecting it to go beyond that footprint right now," said Stevens. What they're saying "Well, certainly the same weather that they're having, we're having," said Lt. Chris Dibrell, the Fire Adapted Communities coordinator for the Austin Fire Department's Wildfire Division. While Austin has avoided any major fires so far, AFD has been very busy—with 25 brush fire calls through Tuesday night. In fact, they've been bringing brush trucks to regular calls, just in case, and urge residents to do their part. "If you're grilling, dispose of the ashes. If you're smoking, be sure you discard your smoking materials appropriately," said Dibrell. Why you should care Austinites can get a Structure Ignition Zone Evaluation to help keep your home safe from wildfires. "We will come. We will schedule a meeting, meet you at the front door of your house. Walk around the outside of your home with you, and give you pointers and advice on how you can protect your home from embers," said Dibrell. Central Texans can sign up for alerts, so you know if a fire is close by, by clicking here. It's also a good idea to have a bag ready to go with essentials like food and clothing, in case you get evacuated. The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's John Krinjak and previous coverage
