Extreme weather in Texas, including wildfires, thunderstorms and flooding, is intensifying due to climate change, according to scientists.
Alejandra Martinez and Yuriko Schumacher report for The Texas Tribune.
In short:
- Texas experienced record-breaking wildfires, tornadoes, severe storms and a tropical storm in the first half of 2024.
- Scientists attribute these events to rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns from greenhouse gas emissions.
- Texas is witnessing more intense rainfall in wet regions and amplified drought in dry regions.
Key quote:
“Rainfall is being concentrated in these really high-intensity storms. And then the areas that are historically dry, the lack of rainfall is also being amplified.”
— Avantika Gori, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rice University.
Why this matters:
For the residents of Texas, these changes are not just statistics but a harsh reality. Families are being displaced, properties are being destroyed and the landscape of the state is being reshaped. Farmers and ranchers are particularly hard-hit, with crops and livestock suffering from the unpredictable and extreme weather patterns.
