The First Virginia Climate Assessment (VCA) is here!
🌱
After months of hard work, collaboration, and anticipation, the Virginia Climate Center is thrilled to announce the release of the first ever Virginia Climate Assessment (VCA).
Read the VCA at the link in our bio 🔗
Read the latest blog post to learn more about what to expect this season in Virginia and how to keep yourself and loved ones safe:
https://t.co/9EA3vXi4TW
New from the Virginia Climate Voices Blog 🦟
Could the winter's biting cold lead to more biting insects? Experts Dr. Amira Roess, Dr. Benjamin Cash, and Dr. Holly Gaff discuss how the past winter's cold spell could mean more tick and mosquito activity this summer.
Extreme heat is one of the leading causes of weather-related fatalities each year.
Last summer, the Virginia Department of Health reported the highest spike in heat-related illnesses across the Commonwealth since recording started in 2015.
#HeatSafetyWeek
Do you know where to go if you need to cool down on hot days? 🌬️ Air-conditioning availability is vital to staying safe from heat-related illness
Many localities across VA open cooling centers during heatwaves to provide a cool resting place for all who need it
🤝 Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone do the same for you
🚗 Never leave children or pets in cars
📰 Check the local news for health and safety updates
Stay tuned for more heat safety tips throughout the week!
It's #HeatSafetyWeek, Virginia! The current heatwave is a sneak peek into what summer has in store, so now is the time for a heat safety refresher.
During a heatwave:
👇
💧 Drink plenty of fluids even if you don't feel thirsty
🏃 Schedule outdoor activities carefully
👕 Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and sunscreen
🚿 Take cool showers or baths to cool down
👇
From extreme heat to flooding, climate hazards affect everyone in the Fairfax Health District. Our new Climate Health webpage provides information on these hazards, how they can impact your health, and the steps you can take to stay safe. Learn more: https://t.co/0edM3fMp0V
This risk is not distributed evenly, though. Populations such as the elderly, outdoor workers, transit riders, and the unhoused are particularly susceptible to the dangers of extreme heat.
Learn more about heat risk in Virginia:
https://t.co/CLnOYkM9A7
Did you know? 🥵
Heat risk is on the rise in VA, leading to significant health impacts & healthcare costs.
Extreme heat is often accompanied by high humidity, making it hard for humans to expel heat through sweating & increasing the chances of hospitalization & mortality. ⬇️
When it rains, it pours ⛈️
The Virginia Climate Assessment found that heavy precipitation events are becoming more frequent and intense, especially in VA's urban & coastal areas
Norfolk, as visualized by @ClimateCentral, experienced a 27% rise in rainfall intensity since 1970
New from the Virginia Climate Voices Blog:
Are VA's winters getting warmer, colder, or weirder? ❄️
The fierce '25-'26 winter may have many thinking colder, but the data paints a more complex picture
Read the latest blog post by VCC expert @Lortizuriarte https://t.co/2Bgq5xeFog
Did you know?🤔⚡
Extreme weather is leading to more frequent power outages in VA.
As severe weather intensifies, VA’s aging electric grid is increasingly vulnerable to failures that have cascading effects on our most vital infrastructure.
Learn more:
https://t.co/CLnOYkM9A7
The Virginia Climate Center is building the infrastructure to provide climate services to the entire Commonwealth. From flood mapping along the bay to creating the First Virginia Climate Assessment, our mission is to assist communities with the best science available.
This #GeorgeMasonGivingDay, your support will empower us to continue & grow our efforts to aid VA local/state governments, communities, & small businesses with climate resilience decision-making
Learn more about the VCC: https://t.co/9vJzAtyC5D
Give: https://t.co/vEI717bB4S 💚 💛
Since its creation in 2022, the VCC has been helping communities across VA meet their climate challenges 🌱
Our students, faculty, & staff deliver climate data & insights: from the First Virginia Climate Assessment to codeveloping solutions for dangerous flooding & extreme heat.
Did you know? 🤔✒️
Authors of the Virginia Climate Assessment used weather data recorded by Thomas Jefferson to complete their assessment.
His records, including measurements of things like temperature and wind, helped researchers to compare current & past climate conditions.