Bad News for Fall Lovers

🌧️ Cities Receive More Rain than Rural Counterparts

Cities are often measurably warmer than their surrounding rural areas, which is known as the urban heat island effect. Fewer people are aware that the urban heat island effect has a twin counterpart - the urban precipitation anomaly. The presence of urban development measurably affects the amount of rainfall in an area. Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin recently looked for evidence of precipitation anomalies in 1,056 cities across the globe from 2001 to 2020. They found that more than 60% of those cities received more precipitation than their surrounding rural areas. For example, Houston was found to have received almost 5 inches more rain per year than its surrounding rural areas. Other large cities with high precipitation anomalies include Ho Chi Minh, Kuala Lumpur, Lagos, and Miami. The increased precipitation coupled with impervious surfaces that make up urban environments can be a recipe for flash flooding.

The University of Texas at Austin, Phys.org

🦟 Mosquito Season Changes Due to Climate Change

As global temperatures continue to rise due to climate change, mosquito season has lengthened across much of the United States. Longer mosquito seasons can increase the risk of outbreaks of diseases such as dengue and malaria, as well as the spread of West Nile and Zika viruses. In the last 40 years, more than 2/3 of the country has seen an increase in mosquito days. Mosquito days are defined as a day with an average humidity of at least 42% and temperatures between 50 and 95F. The Northeast, which has warmed quicker than the rest of the country, has experienced the biggest increase in mosquito days. Vermont has averaged 17 more mosquito days in the past 5 years compared to the previous few decades. Mosquito season has actually shortened in hotter regions such as Texas due to more frequent temperatures exceeding 95F, which pushes mosquitos past their physiological limits. Droughts in the southwest have also led to fewer days with sufficient humidity for mosquitos to thrive.

Harry Stevens, The Washington Post

🍂 Bad News for Fall Lovers

As the calendar shifts to September and October, anticipation for cooler temperatures is on the rise. However, you may be waiting longer than usual to experience those crisp fall evenings this year. Fall is one of the fastest warming seasons of the year, almost becoming an extension of summer. The Climate Prediction Center says that above-average temperatures are expected to continue through November. Most of the U.S. sees temperatures drop by around 20 to 25 degrees from mid-July to mid-October, but despite some cooler flashes, warmth appears to stick around this year. If hurricane activity picks up again as predicted, U.S. coasts could experience periods of cooler-than-normal temperatures, and more precipitation.

Mary Gilbert, CNN

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