Climate change could make Yuma summers hotter

Report finds Southwest’s average temperature could go up more

Imagine if Yuma was 4.8 degrees hotter. That might not be a big deal in, say, December, but in July, that sounds horrible.

A new draft federal science report looking at the effects of global warming includes projections for potential climate change by region, according to the Associated Press.

For the Southwest, which includes California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona, the average annual temperature has gone up 1.56 degrees since 1901-1960. That average is projected to rise another 4.8 degrees by mid-century, and 8.65 degrees by the end of the century, the Associated Press reports, unless carbon pollution is reduced.

Now, one might argue that in the summer, Yuma is a bit of an oven. Some days, that oven is more like a sauna — steamy, sticky, hot and unpleasant.

Imagine Yuma, however, if that prediction holds true. As it stands now, Yumans have to take measures to protect themselves from the heat. The joke here is that we need oven mitts to drive our cars in August — but if nature’s thermostat goes up much higher, car dealerships may start adding oven mitts as part of the sales package.

The AP story notes that if carbon emissions are reduced, the annual temperature for our region would still go up, by 3.72 degrees by mid-century, and 4.93 degrees by late century.

And let’s face it. When it comes to heat in Yuma, we don’t like to think about our temperatures getting any more extreme than they already are.

On a hot August day here, it’s hard to contemplate the full ramifications of turning the heat up even just a little more.

Some might joke there isn’t much difference between 115 and 120, or 120 and 125, but we would disagree.

So what’s an already-hot city to do? Every person can play a part in reducing carbon emissions, but the biggest changes need to come from the top, with emissions-emanating businesses making reduction a priority as well.

Let’s hope those efforts are enough to rein in the temperatures, before it’s too late.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS OR NOT?