The Standard
  • Home
  • News
    • Archives
    • Editorial
    • Shorelines
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Happenings
    • Press Releases
  • Sports
  • Columns
    • The Caped Cearnsader - Dan Cearns
    • Walk Softly - Geoff Carpentier
    • THE STORY BEHIND THE PERSON - Jonathan van Bilsen
    • YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING - Jonathan Van Bilsen
    • Tina Y. Gerber
  • About/Contact
    • Links
    • Pick up a paper
    • Standard Access
  • Other
    • Subscribe to newsletter
    • Media >
      • Audio
      • Games
      • Flip books
      • Website Design
    • Recipes
    • Shop Local
    • Young Adults

Climate change experts warn of 'extreme weather to come'

4/17/2014

Comments

 
JOE LEBOUTHILLIER The Standard
NORTH DURHAM:
At Scugog council's meeting on April 14, the Durham Region Roundtable on Climate Change (DRRCC) expressed their concerns about extreme weather.

Manager of Sustainability, Brian Kelly, and a fellow DRRCC member Todd Hall, presented to councillors the research they received from SENES, a specialized consulting firm based in Richmond Hill.

Their presentation to council noted that over the next 40 years, weather will become extreme and the people of North Durham need to be "prepared, protected and safeguarded" along with the surrounding infrastructure.

"There will be less snow and more rain in the future winter seasons," Kelly said. The DRRCC's presentation also showed a rainstorm in August 2040 to 2049 will produce 79 per cent more than received in August 2000 to 2009.

Extreme wind in the immediate areas will decrease by almost 20 kilometres per hour. As well, temperatures will get warmer in the winter months by about four degrees.

Between 2000 and 2009, average days per year with the humidex being above 40 degrees sat at three days. In the SENES report, it shows that number will grow to 24 days by 2040.

A projected 20 to 40 millimetres of more rain will fall in August and about 15 centimetres less snow will fall during the winter months. This is potentially dangerous for residents near lakes, as it will increase the chances of flooding.
Along with those stats, between 2040 and 2049 there will be around 1,100 more days of the year where the temperature will be above freezing. As for days below that and require heating, there will be almost 500 days less.

Local residents who use air conditioners in the weather above 24 degrees saw 12 days per year between 2000 and 2009. However, come 2040 there will be about 90 days per year that will require AC.

In 40 years-time, North Durham is expected to receive 217 per cent more rainfall and 75 per cent less snowfall in the month of February alone.

"The hardest issue that we have is that these stats are a long-way off," said Scugog Mayor Chuck Mercier. "It's hard to see it as immediate."

The councillors are unsure of what to do with no climate change price tags readily available.

"If we look at completing a plan early and paying attention to these numbers, we can potentially save money by extending the life of infrastructure by building it appropriately," said Hall. That being said, Kelly says they will not know exact costs until the municipality can provide them with volunteers.

"We need to really plan our next step," said Ward 5 Councillor Howard Danson. "I'm not sure if we have the money to plan for an event that may happen in the future, it seems like a luxury to pay for maybes."

The DRRCC wants a decision made before the municipal election this fall.

Councillors asked for more information, and the DRRCC gladly agreed to go out and talk to more experts on climate change.
We reserve the right to remove any and all comments for any reason. Comments with swearing will be deleted without exception.
Comments
comments powered by Disqus
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Flip book Archives

    Categories

    All
    Agriculture
    Alex-ross
    Als-challenge
    Animal
    Arts-entertainment
    Audio Available
    Benjamin-priebe
    Blackstock
    Blake-wolfe
    Caesarea
    Cartwright
    Construction
    Dan Cearns
    Darryl Knight
    Darryl-knight
    Download
    Durham
    Education
    Environment
    Event
    Financial Matters
    Food Beverages2578654cce
    Goodwood
    Greenbank
    Guest-writer
    Health
    Heritage
    Joe-lebouthillier
    Kawartha-lakes
    Local-business
    Nancy-melcher
    News
    North-durham
    Police
    Politics
    Port-perry
    Relay-for-life
    Scugog
    Scugog-island
    Shirley-love
    Sports
    Uninion
    Uoit
    Uxbridge
    Youth
    Zephyr

The Standard News Corp. © 2018
  • Home
  • News
    • Archives
    • Editorial
    • Shorelines
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Happenings
    • Press Releases
  • Sports
  • Columns
    • The Caped Cearnsader - Dan Cearns
    • Walk Softly - Geoff Carpentier
    • THE STORY BEHIND THE PERSON - Jonathan van Bilsen
    • YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING - Jonathan Van Bilsen
    • Tina Y. Gerber
  • About/Contact
    • Links
    • Pick up a paper
    • Standard Access
  • Other
    • Subscribe to newsletter
    • Media >
      • Audio
      • Games
      • Flip books
      • Website Design
    • Recipes
    • Shop Local
    • Young Adults