The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted Maryland has a rough 40%-50% chance of having a warmer summer than normal.
Summer projections from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) show that Maryland is poised to have a hotter-than-normal summer, but experts are conflicted on whether it will be record-breaking.From June to August, Maryland is set to have a 40% to 50% chance of above-normal temperatures. This rise follows a trend of increasingly hot summers due to climate change. This year may also be particularly challenging due to an anticipatedly more active hurricane season.
According to Axios:
What they’re saying: Michelle L’Heureux, who leads the forecasting unit that predicts El Niño and La Niña at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center in Maryland, told Axios that other climate trends — including human-caused climate change — may outrank the see-saw from El Niño to La Niña as the dominant driver of U.S. summer temperature anomalies.
- “Clearly, greenhouse gases are the #1 primary driver of climate trends over the U.S.,” she told Axios in an email.
- She noted that El Niño and La Niña tend to have their greatest influence on U.S. weather patterns during the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere.
Across Maryland, counties lead efforts to combat extreme heat, alerting residents and building cooling shelters. Montgomery County has previously explored mapping heat islands in the county as part of an effort to make dense urban areas more climate-resistant and better direct resources to communities in need.
Higher temperatures can also strain the electric grid, leading to increased chances of failures or fires during times of critical need. This is important, especially considering the broader conversation around electrification and the broader need for more electricity.
