A recent study reveals that hurricanes are intensifying due to climate change. The average wind speed for Atlantic hurricanes increased by 29 kph from 2019 to 2023. Notably, 30 out of 38 hurricanes reached higher intensities, with three storms growing into Category 5 hurricanes. Climate scientists attribute the increased intensity to warming oceans and predict more intense storms in the future.
Key Statistics
- Average increase in wind speed for Atlantic hurricanes from 2019 to 2023: 29 kph
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Number of hurricanes reaching intensities roughly one category higher due to climate change: 30 out of 38
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Hurricanes that grew into Category 5 due to climate change: Lorenzo (2019), Ian (2022), and Lee (2023)
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Increase in wind speed for Hurricane Milton: approximately 40 kph
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Increase in wind speed for Hurricane Rafael: 47 kph
Specific Examples of Hurricanes Affected by Climate Change
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Of 38 hurricanes that occurred from 2019 to 2023, 30 reached intensities roughly one category higher because of climate change.
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Three hurricanes – Lorenzo in 2019, Ian in 2022, and Lee in 2023 – grew into Category 5 hurricanes due to the effects of climate change.
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Hurricane Milton was enhanced by approximately 40 kilometers per hour (24 miles per hour), pushing it from Category 4 to Category 5.
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Hurricane Rafael underwent a dramatic 47-kilometer-per-hour (28-miles-per-hour) boost, shifting it from Category 1 to Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Warming Oceans and Increased Intensity of Hurricanes
The warming of the North Atlantic Ocean’s surface has been linked to the increased intensity of hurricanes. Climate change is now allowing very intense storms to persist later into the season, according to researchers.
Two new studies have concluded that all 11 hurricanes from the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season were supercharged by climate change. The warming of the North Atlantic Ocean’s surface enhanced the wind speeds of Hurricanes Milton and Beryl by about 40 kilometers per hour (24 miles per hour) and 25 kilometers per hour (16 mph), respectively.
Notable Examples
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Hurricane Lorenzo in 2019, Ian in 2022, and Lee in 2023 all grew into Category 5 hurricanes due to climate change.
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Hurricane Milton was enhanced by a 40-kph (24-mph) boost, shifting it from Category 4 to Category 5.
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Hurricane Rafael was enhanced by a whopping 47-kph (28-mph) boost, going from Category 1 to Category 3.
Quotes
“Climate change is now allowing very intense storms to persist later into the season,” says Daniel Gilford, a climate scientist based in Orlando, Florida.
