Scientific research reveals that climate change has increased the rainfall and wind speeds of Hurricane Helene by about 10% and 11%, respectively. Similar intensification is anticipated for Hurricane Milton, highlighting the need for urgent climate action to mitigate the increasing frequency and severity of hurricanes influenced by warming global temperatures.
Recent research indicates that human-induced climate change has significantly exacerbated the severity of Hurricane Helene, increasing its rainfall by approximately 10% and its wind intensity by about 11%. This analysis, conducted by World Weather Attribution, unveils that the warmer climate contributed to Helene’s wind speeds being elevated by roughly 13 miles per hour (20.92 kilometers per hour). Furthermore, the exceptionally high sea temperatures that fueled the storm were estimated to be 200 to 500 times more likely due to climate change, with ocean temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico being about 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) above average. Ben Clarke, a co-author of the study and climate researcher at Imperial College London, emphasized the connection between warmer air and increased moisture retention, which consequently heightened rainfall totals. He remarked, “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…”. The research also suggests that similar conditions are anticipated to affect Hurricane Milton, which is approaching the Florida coast shortly after Helene’s impact. The scientists cautioned against the continued reliance on fossil fuels, predicting that such practices will lead to a surge in hurricanes akin to Helene, resulting in catastrophic floods well inland, as evidenced by the impacts from Helene, which claimed over 230 lives largely due to extensive inland flooding rather than just the wind damage. Helene, upon making landfall in Florida, produced a record storm surge of 15 feet (4.57 meters) and sustained winds of 140 miles per hour (225.31 kilometers per hour), causing extensive devastation in various states and leaving millions without essential services. It is estimated that the storm deposited more than 40 trillion gallons of rain in the affected areas, a volume which would have been less severe had climate change not contributed to its intensity. The frequency of hurricanes with such intensity has increased significantly, now occurring approximately 2.5 times more often than previously expected. The collaborative analysis undertaken by World Weather Attribution serves as an urgent reminder of the urgency of climate action, as the implications of climate change continue to reverberate through catastrophic weather events. A separate analysis by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory reported that climate change was responsible for 50% more rainfall in key regions affected by Helene and drastically increased the likelihood of observed rainfall rates by up to 20 times. Kim Cobb, director of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, underscored the imperative for improved emergency preparedness and resilience planning in light of the clear link between climate change and hurricane intensity. She articulated that developments in the coming decades will worsen hurricane statistics if fossil fuel usage persists uninterrupted, stating, “Going forward, additional warming that we know will occur over the next 10 or 20 years will even worsen the statistics of hurricanes.” The recent occurrence of these two substantial storms in quick succession serves as a harbinger of future climatic conditions if substantial transformations in energy systems are not enacted. Clarke asserted, “That just hinges on how we change our energy systems and how many more fossil fuels we burn.”
The article analyzes the increasing intensity and rainfall of hurricanes, specifically focusing on Hurricane Helene, which has shown significant enhancement due to climate change. Through rapid climate attribution studies, scientists assessed the role of human-induced warming in exacerbating weather extremes, particularly in hurricane activity. The research not only details Helene’s devastating impact but also forecasts similar conditions for Hurricane Milton, thereby emphasizing the broader implications of climate-related phenomena on extreme weather events.
The findings presented in the study underscore the urgent need to address climate change, given its role in intensifying hurricanes like Helene and the impending Hurricane Milton. The substantial increase in rainfall and wind speeds attributable to climate change serves as a cautionary indicator of the severe consequences of continued fossil fuel consumption, necessitating immediate action to mitigate future climatic impacts and improve resilience against such natural disasters.
Original Source: abcnews.go.com
