New World Climate

5.9 million Chinese face drinking water shortages

As the Yangtze river hits its lowest water levels in at least 140 years, the figures of Chinese who face drinking water shortages has doubled from 2.43 million to 5.9 million. According to state media, the cause is severe winter drought as rainfall is down 70% this year.

Because of the low water levels in the Yangtze River, more than 40 ships have run aground since October, and the number of livestock without sufficient drinking water hit 5.67 million.

Sources include Inquirer.net and Chinaview.

Hundreds of tons of fish freeze off the coast of Taiwan

Hundreds of tones of fish are freezing to death off the coast of Taiwan due to an unusual cold front. The marine environment is being disturbed by the decaying fish on the ocean floor, and some local fish farmers have lost up to 80% of their stocks.

The BBC story is available on YouTube.

Chicago runs out of money for snow removal

The City of Chicago has already spent $20 million on snow removal this winter, $1.5 million over its $18.5 million snow removal budget. The city has gotten 88% more snow this year than last.

A city spokesperson has said that it will use money from its corporate fund to get through the winter if it has to. Details can be found at the Chicago Sun Times.

The same has happened in Aspen and Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and other parts of the country, as well.

Georgia attempts to appropriate a portion of Tennessee in order to secure more water during historic drought

A historic drought (PDF) in Georgia has prompted state legislators to attempt to appropriate a portion of Tennessee in order to give Atlanta residents access to water from the Tennessee River. In 1818, the border between Georgia and Tennessee was drawn incorrectly due to primitive surveying equipment. Now that Atlanta residents are facing water shortages, the state legislators wants to move the state line 1.1 miles north which would allow Georgia to draw water from the Tennessee River.

Tennessee officials and residents have said they will fight the measure by whatever means necessary.

More details available at the Washington Post.

Deadly tornadoes sweep across the southern US

82 confirmed tornados swept across Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee killing a total of 59 people and destroying hundreds of homes.

According to Wikipedia, "The outbreak was the deadliest in the U.S. since the May 31, 1985 outbreak that killed 76 across Ohio and Pennsylvania."