The air up there
Caroline Reinhart | 7/13/2023, 6 p.m.
A GRTC bus makes a splash at the intersections of Broad Street and Commonwealth Avenue after a torrential downpour in Richmond and surrounding areas on July 8.
Such rainfall, causing flash flood warnings, is caused by warm air masses that can hold much more moisture than cooler ones, leading to a longer, heavier rainfall.
As climate change worsens, Virginia and other parts of the world must prepare for frequent and extreme weather events. For example, the world experienced the hottest average global temperatures
for four days straight during the first week of July. In Richmond, July historically is the hottest month in Richmond, and next week will follow that pattern with 90-plus temperatures and periodic thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, extreme heat seen in other parts of the country is caused by anthropogenic climate change and is exacerbated by El Niño, the naturally occurring warming phase of the surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. These two factors are likely to not only raise temperatures for the rest of the summer but also increase the risk of flooding.
