Many Americans heading to the polls on Tuesday were feeling unseasonably warm November temperatures. New York City voters experienced warmest weather on presidential election day since the 1930s. High temperatures, drought, and wind created perfect fire conditions for the region.
But it wasn’t just the Big Apple. The World Meteorological Organization announced Thursday that this year is on track to be the world’s hottest year on record. Climate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, is increasing the possibility of eerily warm weather in states up and down the United States.
The nonprofit Climate Central said some cities felt 20 degrees warmer than average.
“Climate change is increasing the likelihood of this extreme warmth from Kentucky to Georgia to Florida,” the report said. said Tuesday.
At the end of October, the group said: Cities analyzed: 185 out of 191 cities It was warmer than normal, with the highest extremes occurring from the Rocky Mountains to Mississippi. Nearly 20 cities, including nearly half of Texas, experienced the hottest October on record.
Temperatures were particularly warm in the Southwest last month. The most unusually hot city was Grand Junction, Colorado, the heart of the state’s wine country and Colorado National Monument.
World famous “Sin City” Las Vegas, Nevadathe hottest October on record, breaking a record set more than 20 years ago.
Southern base atlanta There has been a warming trend over the past half century.
“Compared to 1970, the city has experienced more than 15 longer than average days during this pumpkin-scented season,” Climate Central said.
And as the calendar turned to November, this trend continued across the Southeast and Northeast states.
Southeast voters Climate change has made people at least five times more likely to experience near-record high temperatures in the poll.
in the capital of Tennessee nashvilleWednesday set a new record high, made more likely by climate change. In South Carolina’s capital, Columbia, climate change is likely to raise the city’s all-time high by at least 1.5 times.
On the East Coast, climate change led to record-breaking heat in early November. boston It is twice as likely to occur, and at least 1.5 times more likely. philadelphia.
The National Weather Service said record-warm low temperatures are expected to continue from the mid-Atlantic to the Southeast and along the Gulf Coast through the weekend.
“While high temperatures have not reached record levels, they will remain well above normal in these regions into early November,” the agency said.
Social media users have taken notice of this strange change.
“Whenever you’re feeling distraught, go for a walk outside. There’s nothing like a beautiful summer day to distract you.” @Charles W. Harper.
“It’s over 70 degrees in upstate New York today. It’s November. Something just isn’t right,” the user said @A_NascimentoD.
“I think it’s no surprise that the day after Trump won the election, cities across the country are seeing record warmth. The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast will be in the 80s in November.” says the climate group. sunrise movement Said.
“It can be 72 degrees or it can be pitch black at 5pm, and when both happen at the same time it just makes me feel even weirder,” User X said @joysprick.
“On the bright side, it’s 70 degrees today in November, so we might not even be able to survive this regime,” he wrote. @Petermarito. This post has 88,000 likes.
Of course, some people didn’t complain.
“It’s 70 degrees here in the Northeast in November, and libraries don’t like that.” @ttremndeous351.
“It was a miraculous and wonderful 70 degrees tonight. It’s almost November and we’re walking in the water. We had dinner on the beach. Empty. What a wonderful, unexpected gift. No more picnics on the beach. I thought it was over, but I was wrong.” @tie salvage.
The heat of November comes in the midst of a record-breaking drought. Dryness and drought are occurring in every mid-Atlantic state; 49 states There is a drought. That’s a record 87.8 percent of the Lower 48, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The Southwest has been particularly affected. NOAA in 2019 study It turns out that climate change could make “hot droughts” in the Southwest and Great Plains significantly hotter and longer. Climate change was recently identified as the main cause of climate change worsening. western drought.
“I’m really tired of this climate change shit because two days ago it was like 77 degrees in BC and now it’s 39 degrees and New York is in a drought too???” Hello? ? ? “said @IzzieRamirez.
user @mistessown He shared a video of a fire hydrant spewing water onto a road in New York City, which is under drought watch.
Increased chance of precipitation A cold wave will arrive next week, but the eastern region will remain warmer than normal.
