2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season Ends: A Record-Setting Year of Destruction

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season ended with 11 hurricanes, notably Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, which inflicted extensive damage and loss of life across the southeastern U.S. The season was underscored by climate change’s impact on hurricane intensity and formation, heralding an era of increased unpredictability in storm patterns.

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season concluded on Saturday, characterized by the formation of 11 hurricanes, significantly surpassing the average of seven. This season witnessed devastating impacts from hurricanes that affected regions far beyond their landfall sites on the U.S. Gulf Coast. Meteorologists referred to it as a “crazy busy” season, largely attributed to abnormally high ocean temperatures, which facilitated the formation of eight hurricanes that made landfall across areas including the U.S., Bermuda, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Grenada.

The season was marked by notable events, including Hurricane Beryl, which became the first Category 4 hurricane in June, striking Carriacou in Grenada and subsequently wreaking havoc in Jamaica, leading to two fatalities. Remarkably, Beryl also intensified into the earliest recorded Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic on July 1. Typically, major hurricanes (Category 3 and above) do not appear until September 1, according to the National Hurricane Center.

In September, Hurricane Helene emerged as a deadly storm, causing catastrophic damage across the southeastern United States and resulting in over 200 fatalities, marking the most lethal storm to strike the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. North Carolina reported damages totaling approximately $48.8 billion, significantly affecting infrastructure, drinking water systems, agriculture, and forests across multiple states including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

October brought Hurricane Milton, which rapidly intensified, reaching maximum wind speeds of 180 mph, positioning it among the strongest hurricanes by wind speed ever noted in the Gulf of Mexico, second only to Hurricane Rita in 2005. Areas affected by Helene and Milton experienced rainfall levels up to three times their typical averages for September and October, a period recognized as the core of the hurricane season.

Hurricane Rafael concluded the season in November with winds reaching 120 mph, nearly achieving the record for the strongest November hurricane ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico. Rafael impacted Cuba as the island was still recuperating from previous storms, particularly Hurricane Oscar in October, which had caused significant disruptions, including widespread blackouts.

The 2024 hurricane season highlighted the concerning relationship between hurricane formation and climate change, as elevated ocean temperatures, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, contribute to the increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes. Brian McNoldy, a hurricane researcher at the University of Miami, noted, “I do not ever point to climate change as causing a specific weather event, but it certainly has its finger on the scale and makes these extreme storms more likely to occur.” The anomalous strength and timing of hurricanes this season underscore the growing unpredictability associated with climate change.

The season’s conclusion emphasizes the urgent need for continued monitoring of hurricane patterns and the imperative of addressing climate change to mitigate future risks.

The Atlantic hurricane season, spanning from June 1 to November 30, experiences significant fluctuations in hurricane activity influenced by various atmospheric and oceanic conditions. The 2024 season was particularly noteworthy due to the formation of an unprecedented number of hurricanes, coinciding with unusually warm ocean surface temperatures attributed to climate change. The repercussions of these storms extended beyond the immediate areas impacted, exacerbating challenges pertaining to infrastructure and community resilience.

In summary, the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season was characterized by an unprecedented number of hurricanes and considerable destructive impacts across vast areas. The season underscored the correlation between climate change and the increasing intensity and frequency of hurricanes, which poses a growing threat to populations and infrastructure. As we reflect on this season’s events, it is imperative to enhance preparedness and resilience strategies to mitigate future impacts of such extreme weather phenomena.

Original Source: www.wtvr.com