What kind of summer was it in Rochester? Not fiery, but heat index dangerous at times.

William Ramsey, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Updated ·2 min read
Thomas Smalls, who lives downtown in Rochester, was happy with the level of services the city and private groups offer to feed hungry people in the summer. He often does have to retreat from the humidity that raises the heat index.
Thomas Smalls, who lives downtown in Rochester, was happy with the level of services the city and private groups offer to feed hungry people in the summer. He often does have to retreat from the humidity that raises the heat index.

Editor's note: An earlier edition of this story had two wrong weather facts about this summer. They were pulled from Rochester, MN, data and not from New York. This summer in the correct Rochester was not unusually dry at all.

What did it feel like to be out on the streets in Rochester this summer?

Thomas Smalls, who lives downtown, sat outside under the shade of some trees on a warm day this summer while sipping a cold drink. "It's affecting everybody," he said.

He credited the public libraries for allowing people to come in and enjoy the cool space.

"It does seem like it has been hotter than it used to be," said a woman sitting outside Midtown Manor. "Everybody has a problem with it. Heat brings on my seizures. I don't like the heat."

Even moderate increases in heat can exacerbate health problems for people, including breathing issues, heart conditions and diabetes.

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AHEAD FOR THE NORTHEAST: Most of the Northeast is forecasted to remain drought-free, except for small portions of Maryland, eastern West Virginia, and western New York, where drought is favored to persist, according to HHS.gov.

FALL PREDICTION: For September–November, the North American Multi-Model Ensemble predicts that the average temperature will be 0.45 to 3.6 F (0.25 to 2 C) above normal for most of the continental United States.

Seasonal outlooks for fall 2023 from the National Weather Service.
Seasonal outlooks for fall 2023 from the National Weather Service.

DROUGHT: Nearly all of Wyoming County is experiencing a moderate drought, with a small portion abnormally dry; all of Livingston County is abnormally dry, with parts in moderate drought; most of Genesee County is abnormally dry; and much of Ontario County is abnormally dry as of Sept. 14, according to U.S. Drought Monitor, a government data site.

MORE HEAT CALLS TO EMS: Two counties near Rochester — Livingston and Oswego — have had many more heat-related EMS calls than normal over the last 30 days, according to NEMSIS. Monroe County has been typical or lower.

Rochester, New York, continues to see slightly more days every summer where people are forced to use air-conditioning to cool their homes due to the heat index outside. This is due to climate crisis and related effects, over the long run.
Rochester, New York, continues to see slightly more days every summer where people are forced to use air-conditioning to cool their homes due to the heat index outside. This is due to climate crisis and related effects, over the long run.

WASN'T BLAZING IN ROCHESTER, BUT … 2023 has been the planet’s third-hottest year on record through July, according to combined NOAA and NASA data.

In the Finger Lakes region, we did see some effect from climate crisis — global warming caused pollution from humans — in the summer of 2023:

How much of a climate shift did Rochester, New York, experience in the summer of 2023?
How much of a climate shift did Rochester, New York, experience in the summer of 2023?

According to Climate Central, "this analysis used the Climate Shift Index (CSI) to quantify the influence of human-caused climate change on daily average temperatures experienced in 244 U.S. cities during summer 2023 (June 1, 2023, to Aug. 31, 2023)."

Of the 244 U.S. cities analyzed:

  • Nearly all (237 cities, or 96%) had one or more summer days with heat made at least two times more likely due to climate change.

  • Among cities, 175 (71%) had seven or more days with heat made at least two times more likely due to climate change.

  • One-quarter (65 cities) had 30 or more days with heat made at least two times more likely due to climate change.

The Democrat and Chronicle has been investigating the effects of a rapidly heating planet on people who live in our city. Follow along with "City on Fire" as we report the struggle with summer temperatures caused by climate crisis. This is part of the USA TODAY project Perilous Course. Check out the podcast by D&C journalist Rob Bell or contact William Ramsey for general climate impact story ideas.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Summer weather: Rochester NY spared worst heat amid climate crisis