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SALUDA—On April 28, at 10 a.m. at the Saluda Library, the Saluda Garden Club will hold a presentation on climate trends in Western North Carolina, featuring guest speaker Emma Scott from the North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies. 

Emma Scott, an affiliate of the National Centers for Environmental Information, will discuss NCEI’s critical mission and its impact on local weather patterns. Her presentation comes on the heels of a tumultuous year marked by significant weather events, including the effects of Hurricane Helene last fall, a particularly harsh winter, and recent high winds that contributed to wildfires in Polk and neighboring counties.

Originally scheduled to speak in October, Scott’s presentation was postponed due to Helene’s repercussions. Now, she will provide insights into how climate changes influence the environment of Saluda and the broader region.

NCEI, which operates an office in Asheville, has reported that the average U.S. temperature for the first eight months of 2024 was 56.9 degrees Fahrenheit, 3.0 degrees above the 20th-century average. This statistic highlights the warming trend, making it the second hottest year-to-date on record.

As one of the world’s most extensive archives of climate-related data, NCEI is dedicated to providing valuable environmental information to foster positive change for our planet. Scott’s presentation will focus primarily on climate trends affecting Western North Carolina, emphasizing the importance of understanding these trends for the community’s future.

The Saluda Garden Club encourages all community members to attend this session to learn about the evolving climate landscape in our area.