Climate Change Intensifies Hurricane Helene and Threatens Hurricane Milton

Human-induced climate change has significantly intensified Hurricane Helene, increasing its rainfall by 10% and wind speeds by 11%. Scientists predict that similar effects will occur with Hurricane Milton as the Florida coast faces its impact. The research underscores the urgent need to address climate change to mitigate future hurricane risks.

Recent scientific research has revealed that human-induced climate change significantly exacerbated Hurricane Helene, increasing its rainfall by approximately 10% and intensifying its wind speeds by around 11%. This has drawn attention to the impending threat posed by the strengthening Hurricane Milton, which is currently approaching the Florida coastline. According to calculations from the World Weather Attribution (WWA), the warming climate contributed to a rise in Helene’s wind speeds by nearly 13 miles per hour (20.92 kilometers per hour), while the high sea temperatures that fueled this storm were estimated to be 200 to 500 times more likely due to climate change, with sea temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico approximately 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) above normal. Ben Clarke, a climate researcher at Imperial College London and co-author of the study, 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 — which, even without climate change, would have been incredibly high given the circumstances — were even higher.” The effects of climate change are expected to similarly enhance Hurricane Milton, posing a significant risk of catastrophic flooding, as was the case with Helene, where many fatalities occurred due to severe inland flooding rather than high winds. Helene made landfall in Florida with an unprecedented storm surge of 15 feet (4.57 meters) and sustained winds of 140 miles per hour (225.31 kilometers per hour), causing widespread destruction across Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Virginia. The storm claimed over 230 lives and caused millions to lose power and access to essential services. Meteorologists estimated that Helene released more than 40 trillion gallons of rainfall, a quantity that would have been notably lower in the absence of human-induced 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.” Historically, hurricanes of Helene’s severity were predicted to occur once every 130 years but are now approximately 2.5 times more frequent in the affected regions due to climate change. The WWA, an organization founded in 2015 to evaluate the influence of climate change on extreme weather events, conducted this assessment using various scientific models, including the Imperial College Storm Model and the Climate Shift Index focused on ocean temperatures. A concurrent analysis by scientists from the Department of Energy Lawrence Berkeley National Lab suggested that climate change resulted in 50% more rainfall in certain areas, making the observed patterns up to 20 times more probable in regions like Georgia and the Carolinas. Kim Cobb, director of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, acknowledged the uncertainties surrounding the exact impact of climate change on specific storms but affirmed, “We know that it’s increasing the power and devastation of these storms.” She urged that Helene and Milton should prompt immediate action in emergency preparedness and fossil fuel consumption reduction. Analysis of ongoing weather patterns indicates that climate change has played a crucial role in the heightened sea temperatures needed for Milton’s rapid intensification. Clarke warned that the unfortunate sequence of these two consequential storms illustrates the possible future trajectory of hurricanes as a result of unchecked climate change, stating, “We still have control over what trajectory this goes in as to what risks we face in the future, what costs we pay in the future. That just hinges on how we change our energy systems and how many more fossil fuels we burn.”

The unprecedented impact of climate change on recent hurricanes, particularly Hurricane Helene, highlights the significant role human activities have in intensifying extreme weather events. As ocean temperatures rise due to global warming, the frequency and intensity of hurricanes are expected to increase, leading to catastrophic consequences for coastal and inland communities alike. This necessitates an urgent reevaluation of energy policies and fossil fuel reliance, as well as a proactive approach to disaster preparedness and climate resilience planning.

In summary, human-caused climate change has exacerbated the intensity and destructiveness of hurricanes like Helene, with predictions that similar trends will continue for future storms, such as Milton. The recent studies emphasize the importance of addressing fossil fuel dependence and preparing for the more frequent and severe weather events that climate change is likely to bring. It is imperative to reconcile our energy practices with sustainable methods to mitigate future risks and impacts associated with extreme weather events.

Original Source: www.ksnt.com