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California Summers Burn Hotter, Longer
19 Oct
Summary
- California faces hotter summers lasting months longer.
- Snowpack will reduce by 40%, leading to more severe droughts.
- Wildfire smoke exposure is projected to kill thousands more.
California's future climate projections paint a stark picture of heightened environmental challenges, according to the state's Fifth Climate Change Assessment. By midcentury, average temperatures are expected to rise by approximately 4 degrees Fahrenheit, with summers lengthening considerably.
Summers will expand from an average of 90 days to 135 days, bringing increased fire risk, impacting tourism, agriculture, and wildlife. This prolonged warmth will also drastically reduce the Sierra Nevada snowpack by 40 percent, causing snow to fall as rain and exacerbating drought conditions due to immediate runoff.
The assessment also warns of more widespread and extreme floods, alongside a significant increase in annual deaths attributed to wildfire smoke exposure. These changes signify a major upheaval to California's established way of life, necessitating adaptation to a rapidly reshaping environment.
