United States hit with six natural disasters in 24 hours

Six separate natural disasters struck the United States on Tuesday, as global heating continues to destabilise the planet.

The series of extreme weather events was highlighted by climate activist Edgar McGregor in a viral tweet that was liked more than 20,000 times.

Extreme winds can be seen swirling bushfire smoke in the air. A car is in the foreground.
Extreme winds swirl bushfire smoke in Arizona. Source: @andreackelly / @MichelMarizco Twitter

“It's happening. The climate crisis is here,” he wrote.

“Each one of these disasters was possible before anthropomorphic climate change, but now they've become stronger and more frequent.”

His warning is supported by an overwhelming majority of scientists, with at least 97 per cent agreeing human activities are causing the planet to warm.

What are the six natural disasters impacting the United States?

  • Flooding caused the closure of Yellowstone National Park

  • Lake Mead in the southwest is experiencing severe drought

  • A fast-moving derecho thunderstorm tore through the Midwest

  • Bushfires and severe winds scorch Arizona and New Mexico.

  • Bushfires burn across parts of western Alaska

  • A heatwave is frying Texas

How natural disasters are impacting cities

Much of Alaska is now blanketed in smoke, as 85 bushfires burn across the state, including the 60,700 hectare East Fork Fire.

As the blazes continue, the University of Chicago's Energy Policy Institute has warned chronic air pollution cuts life expectancy by more than two thirds.

Girls pour water over their heads in Texas.
Texas residents have struggled to keep cool amid the heatwave. Source: Reuters

In Fort Wayne Indiana, tens of thousands of people have lost access to electricity due to the severe storm which swept through the city on Tuesday.

Yellowstone National Park remains completely closed to visitors due to flooding, the first time this has occurred in 34 years.

The heatwave in Texas has resulted in the state breaking all-time power demand records, and residents have been urged to stay indoors.

Approximately 2,500 homes were evacuated due to the bushfires burning near Flagstaff in northern Arizona.

Extreme weather events destabilise the world

It's not just the United States which has been impacted; freak weather events are impacting nations around the globe.

Mexico City turned white after it was pelted with a hailstorm so intense a supermarket roof collapsed.

Further south in Chile, the Penuelas reservoir which was the main water source for the city of Valparaiso, is almost bone dry after 13 years of drought.

Its water capacity has dropped from the equivalent of 38,000 Olympic-size swimming pools to just two.

Local resident Amanda Carrasco called the situation a “disgrace”.

“We have to beg God to send us water,” she said.

An aerial shot showing Chile's Penuelas lake in Valparaiso is now almost dry.
Chile's Penuelas lake in Valparaiso is now almost dry. Source: Reuters

Spain and Southern France have experienced their second heatwave in a year, with June temperatures peaking at 39 degrees in the Rhone Valley.

In 2021, Spain’s Cordoba province reached 47.4 degrees, the country’s highest-ever temperature.

with Reuters

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