Many new records: 2020 was rich in natural disasters

According to data cited in a UN report published in early December, 2020 was the year of extreme hurricanes, wildfires, droughts, melting ice ice all over the world. About all the cataclysms of 2020, the publication told "Voice of America".

Photo: Shutterstock

“In 2020, more than 50 million people around the world suffered a double blow: from climate-related emergencies (floods, droughts and storms) and from the COVID-19 pandemic,” the UN report says. “Central American countries have been hit by a triple whammy—Hurricanes Eta and Iota, COVID-19, and the humanitarian crises there.”

Hurricanes in the Atlantic

For only the second time in history the entire alphabet was used for the names of the Atlantic hurricanes (names are given to storms with wind speeds of 63-117 kilometers per hour).

2020 hurricane season breaks 2005 record (Hurricane Katrina appeared that season) - in 2020, 30 storms were recorded that were powerful enough to receive a name.

This hurricane season was named the most active on record. ABC News.

Twelve named storms hit the continental United States this season, breaking the 1916 record for nine storms hitting land.

On the subject: 2020 is in bloom: experts say the future will only get worse

Six of the storms that hit the shore were classified as hurricanes, double the normal rate for a single season.

It is believed that global warming makes hurricanes more powerfulbecause hurricanes are formed due to higher sea surface temperatures, and it is this warm water that "feeds" hurricanes.

Experts warn that soon the strength and destructiveness of storms forming in the Atlantic could lead to the need to introduce the 6th power category.

Forest fires

According to experts, 2020 was also the year of the most active wildfires on record in the western United States.

Wildfires have burned more than 1,5 million hectares in California, nearly double the previous record in 2018.

Five of the state's six largest fires have been reported this year.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York.

This year three of the four largest fires in Colorado history break out... The Cameron Peak Fire in Colorado, which raged for 112 days, was the largest in the state's history.

By September 2020, California reached the highest number of burned acres in one yeardespite the fact that the season of fires lasts until the end of November.

According to climatologists, the massive fires in California may be associated with a drought in the southwest of the country that has lasted for about two decades.

The hottest year in history

2020 brought "record warmth" to much of the US Southwest, and August, September and October were the hottest months on record in California.

In 48 states, temperatures were above average this year. In the city of Fenisk (Arizona), a hot weather record was recorded for the first time - temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius lasted 144 days.

August has the highest temperature on Earth, 54,4 ° C (130 F). was recorded in Death Valley National Park in California.

Globally, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) January and September were the warmest on record.

According to experts, 2020 is likely to be one of the top three hottest years. There's every chance that 2020 will be the hottest year on record, a title currently held by 2016.

On the subject: In 10 years, climate change will cost us $ 20 billion a year

Meteorologists believe that climate change is the main cause of record heatand more records are to be expected next year.

“The years we are experiencing now are not just the warmest years on record in the past, they will be among the coolest on record in the 21st century,” said climate scientist Jason Smerdon.

Rains and floods

Heavy rains and rising water levels caused two dams near Midland, Michigan to collapse and 10 residents were evacuated due to flooding.

Tornado

At least 140 tornadoes were recorded in the mid-US in April. These tornadoes have become the deadliest since 2014.

On the subject: Winters are getting shorter and summers are getting hotter: how global warming is changing seasonality

Tennessee was hit hardest by the tornado. According to the National Meteorological Service, there were 35 on the staff. In Tennessee alone, tornadoes killed 28 people.

One the tornado was even rarer due to the duration of the strong windswhich lasted from 30 to 60 minutes instead of the usual 10-20 minutes.

This challenging year in the United States has caused staggering economic damage. As of early October in 2020, there were 16 weather events, the losses from which exceeded $ 1 billion, which was the record for the number of weather disasters for a billion dollars from 2011 to 2017.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Americans are afraid of having children because of the possible end of the world

In 10 years, climate change will cost us $ 20 billion a year

Melting Arctic ice does not raise sea levels: then why are we afraid of global warming

2020 is a bright year: experts say the future will only get worse

'Faster and faster': Greenland ice sheet is melting at record

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.