Hurricanes and Climate Change
Climate change could be the reason why worse storms are our new normal.
Hurricanes are getting stronger, wetter, and more destructive, and it’s all thanks to climate change. The more our planet overheats, the warmer ocean waters get, fuelling longer-lasting storms. If we want to protect our communities and be more prepared for hurricanes, we need to understand how climate change sets the stage and intensifies them.
How does climate change cause hurricanes?
As climate pollution traps more heat in the atmosphere, sea temperatures rise and boost storms in many ways.
First, climate change intensifies hurricanes. Warm water fuels hurricane wind speeds, making them stronger and a lot more dangerous. Second, climate change causes heavier rainfall. A hotter atmosphere holds more moisture, allowing hurricanes to carry more volume and creating a higher risk of flooding when they hit. Finally, as polar ice melts and the oceans expand, higher sea levels lead to more destructive storm surges when hurricanes make landfall.
Reducing the impact of hurricanes by slowing climate change
We can’t stop hurricanes from forming, but we can reduce their impact by addressing it at the root—climate change. Taking action now can stop the planet from overheating and save us from worse hurricanes.
The first thing on our to-do list is cutting carbon pollution. Switching to cleaner energy sources like wind, solar, and hydropower can slow the warming of our atmosphere and oceans, reducing the intensity of storms. Moving away from fossil fuels and investing in sustainable alternatives not only reduces our carbon footprint, but also cleans our air and gives our kids and grandkids a better, safer world to live in. Supporting climate policies like the Energy Permitting Reform Act can cut the red tape on clean energy infrastructure and allow us to quickly scale up projects that will make a real difference.
But we can’t do it alone—climate change is a global issue that needs a global response. International cooperation is crucial to getting countries on board with reducing carbon pollution and investing in clean energy to keep temperatures from rising any further and hurricanes from getting any worse.
Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Fall 2024
Climate change made Hurricanes Helene and Milton about 10–50% wetter and twice as powerful. According to World Weather Attribution, hurricanes this intense would only have formed once in 130 years in the past, but today they’re expected about once per 53 years. The high sea temperatures that fueled Hurricane Helene were made 200 to 500 times more likely by climate change.
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida on September 26, 2024, and in less than 20 hours, underwent rapid intensification into a category 4 storm. It resulted in the loss of 232 people and an estimate of $47.5 billion in damages.
What made things even worse was the fact that these hurricanes hit back-to-back. With power outages, massive rainfall, and flooding from Helene, many areas were already struggling to recover. Hurricane Milton followed closely behind not even two weeks later, hitting Florida on October 9, 2024 and causing nine tornadoes, 24 deaths, and an estimate of $34 billion in damages.
What can we do?
Although we can’t prevent hurricanes from forming, we can lessen their devastating impact by taking bold climate action now. Reducing global warming through individual, national, and global efforts will make a meaningful difference in the intensity and frequency of storms. Together, we can work towards a more resilient world where communities are better prepared and protected against the forces of nature.
Here’s what you can do right now:
✅ Talk to your friends and family about climate change
✅ Electrify your home with clean energy
✅ Join us to advocate for policy solutions that will stop the pollution that’s overheating the planet
