A study indicates that human-caused climate change intensified Hurricane Helene’s winds by 11% and rainfall by 10%, significantly impacting its severity. Experts warn that similar effects are expected for Hurricane Milton as high sea temperatures have fueled both storms. Continuous fossil fuel usage signifies an exacerbation of hurricane-associated risks, with the potential for widespread flooding, particularly in inland areas.

A recent study has revealed that human-induced climate change has exacerbated the severity of Hurricane Helene, increasing its rainfall by approximately 10% and intensifying its winds by about 11%. This assessment comes on the heels of strengthening Hurricane Milton, which is currently posing a threat to the Florida coastline. According to the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group, the high sea temperatures that fueled Helene were made 200 to 500 times more likely due to climate change, with Gulf of Mexico waters reaching temperatures 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit above the average. “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,” stated Ben Clarke, a climate researcher at Imperial College London and a co-author of the study. The scientists predict that Hurricane Milton will face similar enhancements due to climate change. They indicate that ongoing fossil fuel emissions will lead to increasingly powerful hurricanes and devastating flooding, which could extend far inland—an outcome perceived as “unimaginable” by experts. Notably, most fatalities from Helene resulted from inland flooding as opposed to hurricane winds. Hurricane Helene recorded a catastrophic landfall in Florida, featuring a storm surge of 15 feet and sustained winds reaching 140 miles per hour. Recent estimates indicate that Helene unleashed over 40 trillion gallons of rain, a volume that would have been considerably less without human influence on the climate. Scientists calculated that such intense hurricanes are now approximately 2.5 times more likely to occur in the affected regions than they were in the past. The WWA, which was established in 2015 to evaluate the correlation between extreme weather behaviors and climate change, utilized peer-reviewed methods to analyze Hurricane Helene’s impact. Their approach involved weather data analyses and climate models, including the Imperial College Storm Model. A separate evaluation by scientists from the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab corroborated that climate change had increased rainfall intensity in Georgia and the Carolinas significantly due to global warming effects. Kim Cobb, director of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, highlighted the uncertainty associated with quantifying climate change impacts on storms but confirmed that climate change undeniably amplifies their power and destruction. She emphasized the need for heightened emergency preparedness in light of these increasingly severe storms. The findings serve as a clarion call for a reassessment of fossil fuel dependency and energy systems as the future of hurricane intensity remains contingent on these choices.

The discussion surrounding climate change’s impact on storm intensity has intensified as scientists assess the correlation between greenhouse gas emissions and severe weather events. The alarming trends observed in hurricanes like Helene and Milton showcase the pressing need for a concerted effort to mitigate climate change. Extreme weather events, particularly hurricanes, pose a significant threat not only to coastal regions but also to areas located inland, where flooding and other effects can wreak havoc. Understanding the scientific assessments of these storms will be crucial for future preparedness and resilience planning.

In conclusion, climate change has played a significant role in amplifying the severity of recent hurricanes, with Hurricane Helene serving as a stark example of these effects. With climate predictions indicating that the frequency and intensity of such storms will increase if fossil fuel consumption continues unabated, immediate actions in energy policy and emergency preparedness are imperative to mitigate future impacts. The findings from recent studies should prompt careful consideration of strategies to combat climate change effectively and enhance community resilience to the emerging storm patterns.

Original Source: abcnews.go.com