Recent studies reveal that climate change significantly boosted Hurricane Helene’s rainfall by 10% and wind intensity by 11%. These changes are linked to human-caused warming, which raises sea temperatures and amplifies storm impact. Experts warn that similar enhancements are likely for Hurricane Milton, necessitating urgent action to address climate change and its effects on future weather events.

A recent analysis revealed that climate change has significantly increased the intensity of Hurricane Helene’s rainfall and winds. Specifically, scientists determined that human-induced climate change heightened Helene’s rainfall by approximately 10% and its wind speeds by about 11%. The rapid climate shift contributed to an increase in wind speeds of around 13 miles per hour (20.92 kilometers per hour) and made the high sea temperatures that propelled the storm 200 to 500 times more likely. Ocean temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico were reported to be approximately 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) above the average, according to the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group that conducted the study from Europe. Ben Clarke, a climate researcher at Imperial College London, noted, “Hurricane Helene and the storms that were happening in the region anyway have all been amplified by the fact that the air is warmer and can hold more moisture, which meant that the rainfall totals… were even higher.” The study foreshadows a similar enhancement for Hurricane Milton, which poses a threat to Florida. Researchers cautioned that ongoing fossil fuel combustion will likely lead to more hurricanes akin to Helene, resulting in catastrophic flooding not merely along coastal areas but also deeper inland. It was reported that a significant number of Helene’s victims fell prey to severe inland flooding rather than the storm’s high winds. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida, bringing with it record storm surges of 15 feet (4.57 meters) and catastrophic winds reaching 140 miles per hour (225.31 kilometers per hour). The devastation spread to Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Virginia, leaving millions without power, cellular service, and basic supplies, ultimately leading to over 230 fatalities. In the aftermath, search crews were deployed to recover the missing. Meteorologists estimated that Helene unleashed over 40 trillion gallons of rain, an unprecedented amount that would have been significantly lower without the influences of climate change. Clarke emphasized, “When you start talking about the volumes involved, when you add even just a few percent on top of that, it makes it even much more destructive.” The findings indicate that hurricanes of Helene’s magnitude, which were once expected every 130 years, are now approximately 2.5 times more likely to occur in the impacted regions. The WWA was founded in 2015 to determine the extent to which extreme weather events are attributable to climate change. The recent assessments employed established peer-reviewed methods to analyze the influence of climate change on Helene using various climate models. Additionally, a separate analysis from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory scientists concluded that climate change caused nearly 50% more rainfall in parts of Georgia and the Carolinas, making the observed rainfall up to 20 times more likely due to global warming. Kim Cobb, director of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, remarked that while uncertainties exist regarding the precise extent to which climate change intensifies storms, it is evident that the power and devastation of such storms are increasing. In light of these findings, Cobb stated that Helene and Milton should act as a wake-up call for emergency readiness, resilience planning, and a critical reevaluation of fossil fuel usage. As climate change continues to exacerbate hurricane intensity over the coming years, the potential for unprecedented records of destruction rises proportionately. Clarke cautioned that our future trajectory depends significantly on mitigating fossil fuel use and transitioning our energy systems responsibly.

The relationship between climate change and increased hurricane activity has become an increasingly critical area of research. As global temperatures rise due to human activities, particularly through the burning of fossil fuels, meteorological patterns are being disrupted. This results in heightened intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes. The case of Hurricane Helene illustrates how climate change intensified the storm’s effects, contributing to widespread devastation. The scientific community continues to explore these linkages to better understand and mitigate the impacts of future storms, emphasizing the urgency of addressing climate change now.

The analysis surrounding Hurricane Helene underscores how anthropogenic climate change is amplifying the severity of storms, with implications for future hurricanes such as Milton. The increased rainfall and wind intensity, attributed to higher ocean temperatures and altered atmospheric conditions, are clear indicators of the growing threat posed by extreme weather in a warming world. It is imperative for policymakers and communities to heed these warnings and take proactive measures to enhance resilience against the updating threats of climate-induced disasters.

Original Source: abcnews.go.com