Climate change is already making a significant impact on Tennessee’s flooding and storm damage. As the planet warms, the atmosphere can hold more moisture, which leads to more extreme precipitation events. In the last three decades, Tennessee has experienced an increase in the number of heavy rain events, as well as more frequent and more intense hurricanes.
All this extra water is taking a toll on the state’s infrastructure. In 2010, severe flooding caused $1.5 billion in damage to roads and bridges. In 2012, Hurricane Isaac led to $2.14 billion in damage, mostly to homes and businesses. And in 2016, severe storms and flooding caused an estimated $2.6 billion in damage, mostly to homes and crops.
The state is also seeing an increase in the number of “100-year floods,” which are floods that have a 1% chance of happening in any given year. In the last three decades, Tennessee has experienced six 100-year floods, compared to just one in the previous three decades.
All this extra water is also stressing the state’s levees and dams. In 2011, the Mississippi River reached its highest level ever recorded, causing levees to fail in Tennessee and leading to $1 billion in damage. And in 2019, severe flooding led to the failure of the Wolf Creek Dam, which forced the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people.
The state is also seeing an increase in the number of tornadoes. In the last three decades, Tennessee has experienced an average of 33 tornadoes per year. This is up from an average of 20 tornadoes per year in the previous three decades.
The impact of climate change is clear. Tennessee is experiencing more extreme weather events, which are causing more damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. The state is also seeing an increase in the number of 100-year floods and tornadoes.
Sources:
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/climate-change-impacts-tennessee