Nearly 700 people have died in 2021 meteorological disasters in the United States, with the exception of Alaska and Hawaii, a level that has not been recorded since 2011, according to a federal agency report released today.
The year “has been marked by extreme weather events across the United States, particularly unusually hot” and “catastrophic meteorological events,” the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said.
The death toll from the 48 continental states and the capital, Washington, has risen to 688, more than double the number from the previous year (262).
Human activity is responsible for a dangerous climate change that is manifested by more violent meteorological phenomena around the world.
Twenty such events caused $ 1 billion or more in damage in the United States, the second largest number of such costly events since 2020, during which 22 such events were recorded, according to NOAA.
Among the disasters were four cyclones, three tornadoes, as well as floods, forest fires or heat and cold waves.
Such statistics are “a return to reality,” said Rachel Klitus, an economist at Union of Concerned Scientists.
“The catastrophic toll and injuries caused by these extreme climate and meteorological disasters have hit and continue to hit those of color, those on low incomes, and populations that have already suffered multiple disasters,” she said.
A polar cold spell left millions of Americans without power in February when a winter storm swept across large parts of the United States, even as far as Mexico. More than 20 deaths were recorded.
In August, Hurricane Ida hit the US Gulf Coast, causing floods and power outages, plunging large parts of the region into darkness. At least 47 people were killed in the northeastern part of the country.
2021 was the fourth warmest year in 127 years of recorded temperatures, with an average temperature of 12.5 degrees Celsius for the entire continental United States.
December was the warmest month ever, with mercury rising 3.7 degrees above average.
The average temperature in 2021 was about 1.3 degrees higher than the average of the 20th century.
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