Thu Nov 21 06:00:57 UTC 2024: ## Climate Change Supercharged 2024 Atlantic Hurricanes, Study Reveals

**Washington, D.C. – November 21, 2024** – A new Climate Central study reveals that human-caused ocean warming significantly intensified every Atlantic hurricane during the record-breaking 2024 season. The analysis shows that all eleven hurricanes experienced wind speed increases ranging from 9 to 28 mph (14-45 kph) due to warmer sea surface temperatures fueled by greenhouse gas emissions.

The study highlights the dramatic impact of climate change on hurricane intensity. For example, Hurricanes Milton and Beryl were boosted from Category 4 to Category 5 storms due to the warmer waters, while Helene intensified from a Category 3 to a Category 4, resulting in over 200 deaths – making it the second deadliest hurricane to hit the US mainland in over 50 years. Each category increase represents a roughly fourfold rise in destructive potential.

The research employed a novel approach, allowing scientists to pinpoint the influence of climate change on specific storms. In the case of Hurricane Milton, the analysis determined that climate change made the warm sea surface temperatures at its peak intensification 100 times more likely and increased maximum wind speed by 24 mph.

A separate peer-reviewed study examining hurricanes from 2019 to 2023 found that 84% were significantly strengthened by human-caused ocean warming. While the studies focused on the Atlantic, researchers suggest the methodology can be applied globally.

Climatologist Friederike Otto of Imperial College London praised the study’s methodology, noting that it goes beyond previous research that primarily focused on rainfall. She warned that these intensified storms are occurring with global temperatures just 1.3°C above pre-industrial levels, and the impacts will worsen as temperatures continue to rise. Otto even suggested that the current Category 5 hurricane scale might need reevaluation to adequately reflect the unprecedented destructive power of future storms. The devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Milton, with nearly 2.5 million households and businesses still without power and widespread flooding, serves as a stark reminder of this growing threat.

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