Heatwaves are getting ‘more dangerous and deadly’ from climate change as catastrophic flash flooding leaves at least 26 people dead
Kentucky governor Andy Beshear has warned that the death toll will likely continue to rise as officials struggle to reach certain areas of the state that have been badly affected by the floods. On Sunday morning he told NBC it was raining hard in the region and there are renewed warnings of additional flooding.that the flooding was the worst that he has seen in his lifetime. “I wish I could tell you why we keep getting hit here in Kentucky.
Jonathan Overpeck, an earth and environmental sciences professor at the University of Michigan, explained that because human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels have significantly warmed the atmosphere in recent years, the atmosphere now holds more moisture than it used to. As a result, whenever rainfall occurs, it is more drastic.
“It gathers speed, it gathers power, it can pick up debris. And that is a flash flood. It’s really dangerous. It can carry away cars, it can carry away houses, and it can kill people,” said Rebecca HersherOpeck explained that in addition to more frequent flash floods, Kentucky will also likely experience more tornado risks in the future. Last December, Kentucky faced its deadliest tornado outbreak when numerous tornadoes tore through the state and killed 80 people.
As the eastern region of Kentucky struggles with rebuilding efforts that will likely take years, residents from the western parts of the state are also feeling the impacts of climate change in various ways.
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