When Gov. Ron DeSantis referred to a “biblical storm surge,” he was assessing Hurricane Ian’s damage and, unknowingly, prophesying what’s to come in future years and decades in Florida.
Ian displayed many of the characteristics scientists say climate change will bring — and already has brought — to hurricanes because of warmer ocean temperatures and increased moisture in the atmosphere. The storm intensified with alarming speed, its winds nearly doubling in 24 hours before landing on Florida’s west coast as a Category 4. These “rapid intensifying” hurricanes have accounted for 16 of the 20 hurricanes over the past two seasons in the Atlantic, The Washington Post reported. The storm surge DeSantis referred to is made worse by sea level rise.
The frequency of severe storms — Category 4 or 5 — has been on the rise since 1980, according to a New York Times analysis. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration projects those powerful hurricanes will account for even more of our storms in the future because of climate change. Studies also suggest a 10% to 15% increase in rainfall related to hurricanes for a 2-degree Celsius global warming scenario, according to NOAA.
