Climate change goosed hurricane wind strength by 18 mph since 2019, study says
Associated PressBAKU, Azerbaijan — Human-caused climate change made Atlantic hurricanes about 18 miles per hour stronger in the last six years, a new scientific study found Wednesday. A Category 5 storm causes more than 400 times the damage of a minimal Category 1 hurricane, more than 140 times the damage of a minimal Category 3 hurricane and more than five times the damage of a minimal Category 4 storm, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration For three storms, including this month’s Rafael, the climate change factor goosed wind speed so much that the winds increased by two storm categories. “Our analysis shows that we would have had zero Category Five storms without human-caused climate change.” This year’s three most devastating storms — Beryl, Helene and Milton — increased by 18 mph, 16 mph and 24 mph respectively because of climate change, the authors said. In 85% of the storms studied in the last six years, the authors saw a fingerprint of climate change in storm strength, Gilford said.