MEASURES to battle the coronavirus outbreaks have cut the addition of new carbon dioxide, believed to contribute to climate change and global warming (Flickr/NASA).

There’s good news even in a pandemic.

According to a report released Tuesday by a panel of climate scientists, the level of daily carbon dioxide emissions worldwide dropped by 17 percent in April.

The United States cut its carbon dioxide levels by one-third, and China by about one-quarter. Overall reductions tied to measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus by “stay-at-home” and business closures have brought the carbon dioxide pollution down to 2006 levels, according to the Associated Press.

Carbon dioxide contributes to global warming, one aspect of climate change which has seen rising sea and ocean levels and the melting of polar ice caps.

Global Carbon Project, which did the study, found that the biggest declines in atmospheric pollution in the U.S. were in California and Washington, with declines measured at over 40 percent.

Heavy rain leads to broken dam

Heavy rain and flooding have breached a dam in Michigan and rising water levels are forcing an estimated 10,000 people to leave their homes. The total number of evacuations could top 40,000 people.

According to the National Weather Service, a flash flood warning was issued for all along the Tittabawassee River where the Edenville Dam was breached. That’s about 140 miles north of Detroit.

The downpour has brought flooding to Chicago and much of Illinois and other states in the Great Lakes region. More rain is expected on Wednesday.

U.S. coronavirus deaths top 90,000

The number of people counted as fatal victims of the coronavirus worldwide is approaching a third of a million. According to the report Tuesday by Johns Hopkins University, the total is now 323,221.

Leading in the number of deaths by nation is the United States with 91,878, followed by the United Kingdom with 35,422 and Italy with 32,169.

In total confirmed cases, the global total is 4,896,312. The United States has the most with 1,527,895, followed by Russia with 299,941 and Brazil with 271, 885.

Weather: Here comes the sun

After some cloudiness and rain in the Orange County area, sunny skies are in the forecast for the rest of this week and well into next.  Highs on Wednesday will reach 77, then jump up to 85 on Thursday. High temperatures are expected to range from the 80s to 70s through May 29.

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