The Stream, July 12, 2019: Tropical Storm Barry Closes in on Louisiana; Residents Flee New Orleans

The Global Rundown

Residents of New Orleans, Louisiana, prepare to evacuate as the first Atlantic hurricane of 2019 nears the city. A water train makes its way to drought-stricken Chennai, India. Half a million people in Alaska are facing abnormally dry conditions. Extreme rainfall forces 77,000 people to evacuate in southern and eastern China. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers confirms that three U.S. Great Lakes, along with Lake St. Clair, hit record-high water levels in June. 

“The water continues to rise and elevate. If we don’t get that hot dry weather to evaporate, (the water) then it’s going to continue to cause problems.” –Jen Wolf, a lieutenant with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, in reference to record-high lake levels in the region. This week, state officials confirmed that Lake Superior, Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario set new June record-highs. Detroit Free Press

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By The Numbers

135 miles (217 kilometers) Distance between Jolarpettai and Chennai, India. A train filled with water tanks is set to leave Jolarpettai and deliver the water to Chennai, where four major reservoirs have run dry. The water is expected to arrive Friday. Reuters

In context: Reservoirs in Parched Chennai, City of Millions, Are Dry. Can Better Forecasting Avert Future Crises?

77,000 People who have been evacuated as the heaviest rainfall in decades lashes southern and eastern China. The rainfall has caused an estimated 2.69 billion yuan ($392 million) in damages so far, and more precipitation is expected. Reuters

Science, Studies, and Reports

More than 60 percent of Alaska, an area home to 577,000 people, is experiencing abnormally dry conditions, according to the latest weekly report by the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). Since late May, 0.9 percent of the state has also been in severe drought. KTVA

On the Radar

Tropical Storm Barry, the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2019 season, is nearing the Louisiana coastline. Some residents have evacuated New Orleans, where heavy rainfall and flooding are forecasted. The storm has already pushed oil and gas companies along the Gulf coast to shut down temporarily. Reuters  

Kayla Ritter

Kayla Ritter is a recent graduate of Michigan State University, where she studied International Relations and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She is currently based in Manton, Michigan. Kayla enjoys running, writing, and traveling. Contact Kayla Ritter