Environmental Glance
The justices in a 5-4 vote on Thursday rejected arguments by the Biden administration and Democratic-controlled states that the plan was cutting air pollution and saving lives in 11 states where it was being enforced and that the high court’s intervention was unwarranted.
Supreme Court halts enforcement of the EPA’s plan to limit downwind pollution from power plants
Rapidly growing wildfire sparks in Oregon as crews battles fires across US west
Gusty winds fueled a rapidly growing wildfire in central Oregon, the latest blaze to erupt in the US west as high temperatures envelop the region.
The fire broke out just outside the community of La Pine, in central Oregon, on Tuesday and rapidly grew to 2,415 acres (9.7 sq km) by Wednesday morning. Fire crews were able to get 30% containment on the blaze, officials reported on Wednesday, but winds continued to threaten progress.
Evacuation alerts were sent to more than 1,000 homes and businesses as a billowing plume of black and grey smoke loomed over local businesses. La Pine, located about 30 miles south of Bend, is a popular destination area best known for its microbreweries, hiking, river rafting and skiing on nearby Mount Bachelor.
Jodi Kerr, the owner of a home decor and gift store in La Pine, was packing up her store on Tuesday afternoon so she could evacuate. “It’s part of the risk of living in an area like this. It’s beautiful, but it’s wild,” said Kerr.
Hawaii agrees to 'groundbreaking' settlement of youth climate change case
Hawaii on Thursday agreed to settle a lawsuit by 13 young people alleging the U.S. state was violating their rights under its constitution by operating a transportation system that contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
Democratic Governor Josh Green announced the "groundbreaking" settlement at a press conference attended by some of the youth activists and lawyers involved in the lawsuit, which they called the first-ever youth-led climate case seeking zero emissions in transportation.
Two dead in New Mexico wildfires, 500 homes destroyed
Two people have died in wildfires in southern New Mexico that have burned around 500 homes and triggered the evacuation of about 8,000 residents from the mountain resort community of Ruidoso.
The unidentified skeletal remains of a person were found in the driver's seat of a burned out car, New Mexico State Police reported on Wednesday. Another victim was identified as 60-year-old Patrick Pearson.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham told reporters around 500 homes were thought to be among the more than 1,400 buildings razed by the two blazes, making it one of the most destructive wildfires in state history.
More...Wildfire North Of Los Angeles Spreads As Authorities Evacuate 1,200 People
A wildfire that forced the evacuation of at least 1,200 people in southern California has burned over 16 square miles, officials said Sunday.
The blaze, named the Post Fire, started Saturday and was burning near the Interstate 5 freeway in Gorman, about 62 miles (100 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
California State Park Services evacuated 1,200 people from the Hungry Valley recreation area in Gorman and both Hungry Valley and the Pyramid Lake reservoir were closed as a result of the fire threat, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.
Heatwave expected to spread to 250m Americans in midwest and north-east
The scorching heatwave that has swept the US south-east in recent weeks will soon spread to the country’s midwest and north-east regions, affecting nearly 250 million Americans.
Temperatures are stuck at 90F (32C) or above for at least the next week in much of the US, the National Weather Service (NWS) predicted. The NWS defines a heatwave as a period of temperatures exceeding 90F for two or more days, and this one could last until 26 June.
The NWS said: “The first heatwave of the summer begins Sunday over the middle of the nation, before spreading to the midwest and to the north-east by Tuesday then lasting most of next week,” with temperatures expected to approach 105F and break records, with very warm nights.
Soon, cities including Chicago, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Boston may also see their hottest day of the year so far. And humidity is likely to be high.
Southern Florida sees record-breaking storms with up to 8in of rainfall
Florida was hit with record-breaking rain last night, with the entire southern part of the state under a flood watch through Thursday evening.
Cities like Miami and Fort Lauderdale experienced the heaviest downpour of the year yesterday between 5pm and 8pm, and almost 4in of rain fell in Sarasota in a single hour.
“That’s the most ever in an hour,” David Parkinson, senior weather producer at CBS, said on Wednesday.
The Tampa Bay area saw 8in of rainfall in just three hours. This extreme precipitation is so rare for the region, it’s only anticipated once every 500 to 1,000 years. Heavy showers and thunderstorms have resulted in periods of flash flooding across southern Florida, leaving cars submerged in the streets and causing flight cancellations.
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- Climate change is already impacting transportation: Buttigieg
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