This week was one of the wettest in July, all-time

 

The rainfall this week, July 9-10, was one of the wettest two-day periods of any July on record. The most rain fell south of South Bend, a swath of 4 to 5 inch rainfall, fell across Pulaski, Starke, Marshall, Fulton, Elkhart and Kosciusko Counties.

Rainfall totals July 9-10 CoCoRaHs

Some of the highest reports were even more eye-popping, more than 6 inches of rain in some locations.

By comparison the wettest two-day July period in South Bend – the long-term climate record site – was 4.12”, that fell in 1937.

NOAA

What this is, is yet another significant datapoint in a now annual / semiannual cycle of extreme rainfall and flood risk.

This is not a coincidence. Beryl was not caused by climate change, and its track over our area was not influenced by climate change. However, the storm reached an unprecedented Category 5 early in the season, due to record ocean water temperatures.

Also, as the air temperature warms, the atmosphere can hold more water, resulting in more heavy rainfall, anywhere.

These are direct, predicted and now verified impacts of climate change.

Climate Central