• Land

Government Forecast Finds Nearly Two-Thirds of U.S. Experiencing Drought

• climate change
• Drought
• hurricane
• severe weather
• wildfire

A new government climate forecast found that nearly two-thirds of the continental U.S. is in a moderate to exceptional drought that is expected to grow more severe over the coming months. 74 million people will likely experience the most significant spring drought since 2013.

Why This Matters: Experts say these conditions may be here to stay. In January, water experts announced that the entire American west is experiencing a “forever drought” that exacerbates wildfires, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and more.

• Weather

Several Western States Blasted by “Historic” Winter Weather Over The Weekend

• avalanche
• climate change
• National Weather Service
• severe weather
• snowstorm
• tornatdoes
• wind gusts

⚠️ Blizzard conditions continue at the airport. Airlines have ceased operations at DEN for the rest of the day. Peña Blvd is currently impassable with multiple disabled vehicles along the roadways, if you absolutely must come to the airport, please use the @RideRTD A-Line instead pic.twitter.com/uEnXERcDDd — Denver Int'l Airport (@DENAirport) March 14, 2021 A […]

• Politics

Races to Watch: Ernst’s Climate Change Doubts Could Put Greenfield Over the Top

• biofuels
• climate change
• derecho
• Drought
• ethanol
• flood
• Iowa
• oil and gas
• severe weather

Senator Joni Ernst won her way into the Senate in 2014 on a conservative platform and a boast about the ability to cut through the red tape in Washington (she would make the pigs in Washington squeal).  But now her ties to big oil and gas in D.C. are putting her at odds with Iowa farmers who make biofuels. 

Why This Matters:  While it is not her top issue, the Democratic, Theresa Greenfield, does not shy away from climate change.

• People

Election Countdown: Interview with Jean-Luc Duvall, League of Conservation Voters

• climate crisis
• community organizer
• droughts
• future generation
• League of Conservation Voters
• severe weather

In the runup to the election next week, we talked with Jean-Luc Duvall, who is a climate organizer with the League of Conservation Voters in North Carolina.  In his spare time, Jean-Luc is running for a local office in his home of Wake County.  Here are a few of the highlights.

• Weather

Hurricane Sally Takes Aim At New Orleans, As NOAA Hires Climate Denier for Leadership Post

• climate change
• Flooding
• Hurricane Sally
• severe weather
• storm surge

Evacuations have begun as Tropical Storm Sally is picking up strength and heading straight for southeastern Louisiana.  Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expect it to make landfall as a Category 2 hurricane sometime early on Tuesday, according to CNN.

Why This Matters:  Trump voters in Florida are less likely to heed severe weather warnings — they believe conservative media outlets that claim that weather forecasts are exaggerated because the liberal media is hyping climate change.

• Weather

Heat Wave Broils Southern Half of the Country

• extreme heat
• heat
• heat index
• heat plan
• hottest
• Phoenix
• severe weather
• shade

We told you earlier this month that Phoenix had broken its record for the most days of 110 degrees or higher — and they just keep wracking them up.  The city has now had 50 days when the temperature reached 110 degrees or more, shattering the old record of 33.  And now the Gulf states are also experiencing record hot temps this week.

Why This Matters:  Heat waves in the summer in the south and southwest seem like par for the course.  But they are actually getting worse and are more deadly than other severe weather.