Over the weekend, the Northeast was hit by a storm of unprecedented proportions, bringing with it rainfall rates that are expected only once in a thousand years. This extreme weather event resulted in the tragic loss of at least three lives and widespread flooding across the region. In two separate locations on the same night, the storm unleashed a deluge of rain that was truly extraordinary.
In parts of Connecticut, including Oxford and Southbury, approximately 10 inches of rain fell over a span of 12 hours on Sunday. Just 35 miles away in Stony Brook, New York, 6.7 inches of rain poured down in just three hours on the same night. These rainfall amounts are so rare that they would typically only occur with a 0.1% chance in any given year, according to federal rainfall probability data.
Nick Bassill, the director of the state weather risk communication center at the University of Albany, noted the exceptional nature of this event. He highlighted the fact that two areas experienced such extreme rainfall consecutively, which is highly unusual. While it is difficult to immediately attribute any single event to climate change, scientists agree that the pattern of increasingly severe storms in the Northeast is consistent with the impacts of a changing climate.
As global temperatures continue to rise, the atmosphere can hold more moisture, leading to more intense rainfall events. Extreme precipitation events have significantly increased in the Northeast over the years, with the number of days receiving 3 inches or more of precipitation rising by 62% from 1958 to 2018. This trend is putting a strain on existing infrastructure, designed for a more moderate climate, and necessitates a reevaluation of urban planning and design considerations.
Some scientists believe that climate change is altering the behavior of the jet stream, causing areas of high and low pressure to stall and block, leading to prolonged storm systems and heavier rainfall. While this theory is still being researched, the recent storm in the Northeast exemplifies the potential consequences of such weather patterns.
The storm highlighted the vulnerabilities of the region’s infrastructure in the face of extreme weather conditions. Cities and towns in the Northeast are ill-equipped to handle such intense rainfall, as evidenced by the flooding and damage caused by the recent storm. New York City’s sewer pipes, for example, were designed to handle about 1.75 inches of rainfall per hour, a standard that is now being surpassed by more frequent and severe rainfall events.
Tragically, the storm claimed the lives of three individuals in Connecticut, with two people swept away by floodwaters and another killed by a falling tree. The rainfall prompted evacuations, water rescues, and disruptions to air travel. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced the closure of more than a dozen roadways for an extended period due to the storm’s impact.
In conclusion, the recent storm in the Northeast serves as a stark reminder of the increasing likelihood of extreme weather events in the face of climate change. It underscores the urgent need for proactive measures to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of such events on infrastructure, communities, and lives.
