Ways to reduce hurricane damageĮarly warning systems, building codes and keeping development out of the most dangerous areas can better protect communities from storms we’re already experiencing. When a hurricane’s threat level accelerates quickly, people have less time to gather their loved ones, secure their homes and property, and move to safety. Why it matters: Preparing for a hurricane and evacuation takes time. The 2021 IPCC report says that there is evidence of human influence on the trend toward rapid intensification of hurricanes. In pictures: Puerto Rico five years after Hurricane Maria.Hurricane Ian’s storm surge reached 15 feet in Fort Myers, Florida, in 2022, knocking down homes and drowning at least 30 people. Most of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, which hit Louisiana in 2005 as a Category 3, was due to a monster storm surge - reaching 25 feet in some areas - that breached levees in New Orleans. Storm surge can also cause serious flooding miles from shore. Why it matters: Storm surge poses the greatest threat to life during a hurricane, due to the sheer power of the water. The IPCC also confirms that sea levels are rising due to climate change caused by humans, and that increases the height of storm surge - the wall of water a hurricane whips up and sends crashing onto the shore. Smiley of Louisiana State University, who studies disasters and climate change. Why it matters: “Just a few extra centimeters of rainfall from climate change could be the difference between getting a very soaked lawn or thousands of dollars of property damage,” says Kevin T. Hurricane Harvey’s record-smashing 60 inches of rain on Texas in 2017 was boosted by 15-38%. Recent rapid-response analysis estimated that climate change worsened extreme rainfall from Hurricane Ian in 2022 by about 10%. That’s due to warmer waters supplying more moisture to storms, and a warmer atmosphere that can hold more water. Science has also clearly established that climate change will increase rainfall from hurricanes. Hurricanes that caused more than $1 billion in damage have roughly doubled since the 1980s. Why it matters: More severe storms, coupled with more development on risky coastlines, translate to more destruction. hurricanes are three times more frequent than 100 years ago. Recent studies suggest this is already happening. What it does mean is that stronger, Category 3-5 storms, will occur more often. IPCC scientists say that climate change is likely to make large storms more intense and frequent in the future. That doesn’t mean there will be more hurricanes every year. Here’s what climate science tells us about how hurricanes are changing: More frequent strong hurricanes The very latest research suggests this future is already here. The ocean is getting warmer as the climate heats up. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a group of nearly 200 scientists who assess thousands of climate studies from around the world, has confirmed that climate change will likely deliver a future of more dangerous hurricanes.
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