Hurricane Helene, which recently struck Florida, has been a stark reminder of the impact of climate change on extreme weather events. The warming atmosphere, fueled by decades of fossil fuel emissions, has led to increased moisture in the air, resulting in more intense rainfall and widespread flooding.
Helene's rapid intensification before hitting Florida was attributed to the unusually warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico and the broader Atlantic region. The warming of the oceans globally, with over 90% of the warming occurring in these waters in the past 50 years, has made storms like Helene more prone to rapid intensification cycles.
Furthermore, rising sea levels in Florida, now up to 8 inches higher than in 1950, have contributed to higher storm surges, exacerbating the impact of hurricanes like Helene. The speed of sea level rise is also accelerating, posing a significant threat to coastal communities.
Experts have highlighted that Hurricane Helene is part of a concerning trend, with eight Category 4 or 5 hurricane landfalls on US soil in the past eight years, equaling the total from the previous 57 years. This trend underscores the increasing frequency and intensity of hurricanes in a changing climate.
Scientists and environmentalists have long warned about the link between climate change and extreme weather events. The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need to address carbon pollution and mitigate the impacts of climate change to protect vulnerable communities and ecosystems.
