HURRICANES

While climate change does not necessarily increase the number of hurricanes, it does appear to make them more intense and destructive. Ocean warming increases hurricane wind speed and precipitation, and sea level rise intensifies storm surge impacts and damages. They are, perhaps, the world’s costliest natural weather disasters.

Communities also face potential flood disasters: Hurricane Harvey dumped over 60 inches of rain on parts of Houston in 2017 and resulted in at least 93 deaths; Hurricane Florence in North Carolina set at least 28 flood records in 2018; Hurricane Dorian was on track to move through the Bahamas and toward Florida, but stalled, causing massive flooding and destruction in 2019. 2020 became the most active Atlantic hurricane season on record. Of the 30 named storms, 14 developed into hurricanes, 417 people died and over $51 billion in damages was created. 2021 was the third-most active Atlantic hurricane season. Hurricane Ida became the deadliest and most destructive tropical cyclone of that season, killing 107 people, causing catastrophic flooding and contributing 93% of the total damage in 2021. In 2022, became the season’s first major hurricane on September 20, devastating Puerto Rico and The Cayman Islands before moving up to strike Canada with 115-mile-an-hour winds. Hurricane Ian is currently threatening Florida.

A collection of helpful infographics and videos on hurricanes is posted at Climate Nexus. Climate Central has created stunning resources to help you understand the links between climate change and hurricanes. Their extreme weather toolkits on Tropical Cyclones and Heavy Rain and Flooding (available in English and Spanish) provide quick facts and reporting resources including experts available for interviews. And their Hurricane Intensity and Impacts report covers the historical trends and high impacts of rapidly intensifying hurricanes like Ian, and lists experts available for interviews.

Please refer to hurricane advisories from the National Hurricane Center and follow your local National Weather Service Forecast Office for updates.

CREDIT: NOAA

CURRENT NEWS

Axios

1 big thing: Supercharging hurricane rainfall

By Ben Geman and Andrew Freedman 03/03/23

Milder than average ocean temperatures in the tropical North Atlantic Ocean, where many hurricanes tend to form, are causing these storms to grow more intense and dump far more rainfall over land than they used…

First Street Foundation

Highlights From “Worsening Winds”

02/27/23

To understand how properties’ exposure to and damage from tropical cyclones will be impacted by climate change, this report introduces the First Street Foundation Wind Model (FSF-WM). The FSF-WM is a probabilistic property-level risk model…

The Washington Post

See the future risk of damage from hurricane winds by Zip code

By John Muyskens, Andrew Ba Tran, Brady Dennis and Niko Kommenda 02/27/23

Hurricane winds fueled by climate change will reach further inland and put tens of millions more Americans’ lives and homes at risk in the next three decades, according to a detailed new analysis released Monday.

The Washington Post

Displaced Hurricane Ian survivors brace for a holiday without a home

By Derek Hawkins and Others 12/23/22

Meals like this have become sacrosanct for the family of 10 since Hurricane Ian inundated their house here in late September, destroying their belongings and forcing them to strip the interior down to the studs…

The Washington Post

Hurricane season was tamer than expected and horrific all at once

By Ian Livingston 11/30/22

It was an Atlantic hurricane season of high expectations from the start. But after a sleepy August with no storms, questions swirled about whether preseason forecasts for above-normal activity would be a bust.

The Washington Post

Florida beaches were already running low on sand. Then Ian and Nicole hit.

By Lori Rozsa 11/25/22

In the days since Hurricane Nicole lashed this stretch of Florida coast with punishing winds and a powerful storm surge, contractor A.J. Rockwell has found himself on an urgent mission. He has to find sand…

The Washington Post

History-repeating hurricane paths in Florida amaze meteorologists

By Amudalat Ajasa 11/10/22

2022′s hurricanes Nicole and Ian hit in same respective locations as 2004′s Jeanne and Charley; in both years, the storms struck 43 days apart...

Yale Climate Connections

Hurricane Nicole hits Florida

By Jeff Masters 11/10/22

Hurricane Nicole made landfall around 3 a.m. EST November 10 near Vero Beach, Florida, with sustained winds of 75 mph and a central pressure of 981 mb. Nicole was just the fourth hurricane on record…

The Washington Post

Subtropical Storm Nicole forms, hurricane watch issued for Florida’s east coast

By Matthew Cappucci 11/07/22

We’re not quite two weeks from Thanksgiving and still the 2022 hurricane season, with all its plot twists, charges on. Subtropical Storm Nicole was named early Monday and could near hurricane strength as it gets…

The New York Times

The Scars of Hurricane Sandy, 10 Years Later

By James Barron 10/28/22

Debbie Ingenito slipped the little box with the Christmas ornaments out of the plastic sandwich bag she keeps them in. She got the Christmas ornaments on the day that then-President Obama toured the muddy wreckage…

Axios

Drones and satellites are making better, life-saving hurricane forecasts

By Andrew Freedman and Others 10/17/22

The killer app for hurricane prediction? It could be lightweight drones that explore some of the fiercest parts of a hurricane and send back real-time data — or new satellite tech that gives forecasters a…

The New York Times

Ian may push Florida real estate out of reach for all but the super rich

By Christopher Flavelle 10/13/22

The hurricane’s record-breaking cost will make it even harder for many to get insurance, experts say — threatening home sales, mortgages and construction.

Amid the Devastation of Hurricane Ian, a New Study Charts Alarming Flood Risks for U.S. Hospitals

10/03/22

It was a scene that played out in cities and towns along the path of Hurricane Ian as it roared ashore last week: nurses, physicians and other medical personnel working feverishly to evacuate hospitals that…

The Weather Channel

Recent Years Are A Reminder Of How October Hurricanes Can Threaten US

10/03/22

Hurricane season quickly flipped a switch in recent weeks from one of the quietest starts in decades to a pair of devastating storms: Ian and Fiona. Now, we are heading through the final two months…

Asbestos and Natural Disasters Guide

10/02/22

Natural disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes, floods and tornadoes can damage asbestos-containing materials and lead to asbestos exposure among first responders, cleanup crews and nearby residents. Learn how to prevent asbestos exposure when preparing for…

Nasa Global Climate Change

A Force of Nature: Hurricanes in a Changing Climate

06/01/22

From June 1 to November 30, many Americans turn their eyes to the tropics — not just because they’re dreaming of beach vacations, but because it’s hurricane season. Called by many names depending on where…

Science Empowering Communities In The Face Of Flooding

10/06/20

Surging Waters: Science Empowering Communities in the Face of Flooding is a report produced by AGU, a global not-for-profit scientific society dedicated to advancing the Earth and space sciences for the benefit of humanity.

Hurricanes

05/01/20

Hurricanes are one of nature’s most powerful storms. They produce strong winds, storm surge flooding, and heavy rainfall that can lead to inland flooding, tornadoes, and rip currents.

Climate and Hurricanes Primer

08/31/19

Taking advantage of a teachable moment share these vids with anyone that might want to get up to speed on what we know about canes and climate. Above, 2015 interview with Kerry Emanuel and…

National Hurricane Center

09/11/19

Find here analyses, data & tools, educational resources, and more.

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MORE NEWS

The New York Times

New Orleans is coming back from Ida, but rural Louisiana is still struggling.

By Sophie Kasakove 09/10/21

Christine Verdin received numerous photos from friends and family of the destruction Hurricane Ida brought to the rural community of Pointe-aux-Chenes, which runs along a bayou southwest of New Orleans.

The New York Times

Nearly all power has been restored in New Orleans, where at least 10 people died of excess heat after Ida.

By Giulia Heyward and Sophie Kasakove 09/09/21

With the vast majority of lights now on in New Orleans, city officials on Thursday were prepared for the next phase in navigating the aftermath of Hurricane Ida: recovery. The slow progress toward normalcy came…

Democracy Now

Fossil Fuel Leaks, Spills, Flaring & Chemical Releases After Hurricane Ida May Be Worst Ever Recorded

09/08/21

Oil and gas investigative journalist Antonia Juhasz says the extent of damage done after Hurricane Ida from the fossil fuel and petrochemical industry from leaks, spills, flaring, ruptures and chemical releases in the Gulf Coast…

TIME

Can Hurricane Ida Move Public Opinion on Climate Change?

By Justin Worland 09/07/21

For many climate reporters, myself included, the arrival of Hurricane Ida brought a recognizable pit to the stomach. The details of the stories emerging as the storm barreled toward the Gulf Coast were new—of course—but…

The New York Times

Hurricane Larry Strengthens to a Category 3 Storm

09/05/21

Hurricane Larry, the 12th named storm of the busy 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane on Friday night in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, the National Hurricane Center said.

Yale Climate Connections

Death toll from Ida climbs above 60 from Louisiana to New England

By Bob Henson and Jeff Masters 09/03/21

At least 48 people have died in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast as a result of flooding and tornadoes associated with Post-Tropical Cyclone Ida, and the toll continues to rise. Between its category 4 landfall in…

More than 45 dead after Ida’s remnants blindside Northeast

By Bobby Caina Calvan, David Porter And Jennifer Peltz 09/03/21

A stunned U.S. East Coast faced a rising death toll, surging rivers and tornado damage Thursday after the remnants of Hurricane Ida walloped the region with record-breaking rain, drowning more than 40 people in their…

Microgrid Knowledge

How Many Hurricanes Must Slam the Grid Before We Get the Message?

By Elisa Wood 09/03/21

The electric grid’s dysfunctional relationship with hurricanes offers a new twist on the Humpty-Dumpty story. Again and again when fierce storms like Hurricane Ida topple wires and poles, all the king’s horses and all the…

TIME

U.S. Civil Engineers Bent the Rules to Give New Orleans Extra Protection from Hurricanes. Those Adjustments Might Have Saved the City During Ida

By Alejandro De La Garza 09/02/21

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which hit New Orleans in late August 2005, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was tasked with building a new flood-defense network. Congress allocated billions of dollars to build…

Yale Climate Connections

Northeast pummeled with colossal flooding, destructive tornadoes

By Bob Henson and Jeff Masters 09/02/21

Some of the worst urban flash flooding in U.S. history struck the New York City area on Wednesday night, as the remnants of once-category 4 Hurricane Ida teamed up with a frontal zone, upper-level energy,…

The New York Times

43 Die as Deadliest Storm Since Sandy Devastates the Northeast

By Andy Newman 09/02/21

Three days after Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana, its weakened remnants tore into the Northeast and claimed at least 43 lives across New York, New Jersey and two other states in an onslaught that…

The New York Times

The Truth Is That You Can’t Protect Everything From Every Hurricane

By Robert S. Young 09/02/21

Hurricane Ida, which on Sunday struck the coast of Louisiana near Port Fourchon as a very strong Category 4 storm, will teach us many lessons. The first is the hardest to acknowledge: No matter what…

The New York Times

A Monster Storm Tests New Orleans

By Christopher Flavelle 09/01/21

Officials in Louisiana are still assessing the damage from Hurricane Ida, but two things are already clear: While there was widespread flooding around the state, the systems built to defend New Orleans mostly held up.…

Politico

Ida churns up tension on infrastructure vs. climate change

By Zack Colman 09/01/21

Hurricane Ida’s lashing of Louisiana is supercharging a fight in Washington over spending tens of billions of dollars to protect the U.S. from future storms.

Power makes slow return to eastern New Orleans

By AP 09/01/21

Entergy said Wednesday that it is slowly adding power back to New Orleans, and the pace of that work will determine how quickly the region’s important oil refineries can restart operations that were shut down…

The New York Times

Lack of Power Hinders Assessment of Toxic Pollution Caused by Ida

By Hiroko Tabuchi 09/01/21

A fertilizer plant battered by Hurricane Ida belched highly toxic anhydrous ammonia into the air. Two damaged gas pipelines leaked isobutane and propylene, flammable chemicals that are hazardous to human health. And a plastic plant…

The Washington Post

Before and after images show the devastation from Hurricane Ida

By Kasha Patel 09/01/21

When Ida crashed into southeast Louisiana on Sunday, shoreline and inland communities were pummeled, some completely transformed and now unrecognizable. The storm brought 150 mph winds and pushed several feet of ocean water onto shore.…

The Hill

Scientists detail role of climate change in Ida’s intensity

By Zack Budryk and Rachel Frazin 08/31/21

A combination of climate-related factors such as warm ocean temperatures and increased sea level rise helped fuel Hurricane Ida and its path of destruction, scientists said. The deadly storm made landfall as a Category 4…

The New York Times

New Orleanians struggle to find their footing after yet another hurricane.

By Richard Fausset 08/31/21

Nearly all of the built city survived this time. But the misery has already arrived in New Orleans, after Hurricane Ida punched up the city on Sunday night. It was especially pronounced on a stretch…

The New York Times

Hurricane Ida could make the supply chain disaster even worse.

By Peter S. Goodman 08/31/21

In normal times, the devastation of a massive hurricane like Ida tends to be followed by an aggressive rebuilding effort, as carpenters, roofers and other skilled workers descend on affected communities to repair the damage.

The New York Times

Hurricane Ida Offers a Glimpse of the Dystopia That’s Coming for All of Us

By Andy Horowitz 08/31/21

As a boy, Louis Armstrong worked for the Karnofsky family. The Karnofskys’ tailor shop on South Rampart Street in New Orleans became a second home to him, and the family helped him buy his first…

The New York Times

Louisiana Residents Survey Devastation After Hurricane Ida

By Associated Press 08/31/21

Search-and-rescue efforts continued for those stranded after the Category 4 storm battered the state. Officials warned that recovery could take days or even weeks.

The New York Times

As a preview of future hurricanes, Ida is ‘very scary.’

By Winston Choi-Schagrin 08/31/21

The effects of Hurricane Ida will be felt far from where it made landfall in southern Louisiana on Sunday. As it moves across the Upper Ohio Valley and toward the Northeast later in the week,…

TIME

Hurricane Ida Knocks Out All Power in New Orleans. Here’s What to Know

By Rebecca Santana, Kevin McGill, and Janet McGill 08/30/21

Hurricane Ida knocked out power to all of New Orleans and inundated coastal Louisiana communities on a deadly path through the Gulf Coast that was still unfolding Monday, promising more destruction.

Reuters

New Orleans homeless shelters scramble to bring in residents, facing storm and Covid surge

By Devika Krishna Kumar 08/30/21

Alarmed aid workers raced to get New Orleans' homeless off the streets on Sunday ahead of fast-moving Hurricane Ida, a complicated, last-minute push made all the more difficult by a severe outbreak of COVID-19 cases…

Hurricane Ida lashes Louisiana, knocks out New Orleans power

By Rebecca Santana 08/30/21

Hurricane Ida blasted ashore Sunday as one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the U.S., knocking out power to all of New Orleans, blowing roofs off buildings and reversing the flow of the…

The Atlantic

We’re Hitting the Limits of Hurricane Preparedness

By Robinson Meyer 08/30/21

Seventy-four hours. That’s roughly how much time separated the moment that Tropical Depression Nine formed in the Caribbean from the moment that the storm, transformed into a ruthless Category 4 hurricane named Ida, made landfall…

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Oil Industry Surveys Damage After Hurricane Ida Slams Louisiana

By Collin Eaton and Jennifer Hiller 08/30/21

Energy companies were assessing the health of refineries, pipelines, petrochemical plants and offshore oil platforms along the central Gulf of Mexico on Monday, the day after Ida struck Louisiana as a powerful Category 4 hurricane.

Nola.Com

Hurricane Ida: Louisiana residents ask to be rescued; officials say it’s too dangerous to be on road

By Emma Discher 08/29/21

First responders in St. John the Baptist Parish have received at least one confirmed report of people trapped in their attic and others needing to be rescued as Hurricane Ida floods their homes, Parish President…

The Washington Post

Nearly 1 million customers without power as Hurricane Ida charges inland

By Jason Samenow and others 08/29/21

Nearly 1 million customers were without power in Louisiana on Sunday night as Hurricane Ida battered the southeastern part of the state on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

CNN

After slamming Cuba, Hurricane Ida churns through the Gulf of Mexico where it’s expected to be Category 3 storm when it makes US landfall

By Jason Hanna , Paul P.Murphy and Melissa Alonso 08/28/21

Hurricane Ida whipped western Cuba on Friday and the Category 1 storm is expected to slam the US Gulf Coast as an even stronger cyclone Sunday, putting states from Louisiana to Florida on alert for fierce destruction.

Houston Chronicle

Oil companies shut down 91% of Gulf production ahead of Hurricane Ida

By Paul Takahashi 08/28/21

Oil companies have temporarily shut down nearly 91 percent of crude production in the Gulf of Mexico as Hurricane Ida barrels toward the Louisiana coast, threatening the nation’s largest concentration of oil and gas facilities.

Yale Climate Connections

Intensifying Hurricane Ida a significant threat to key infrastructure

By Jeff Masters and Bob Henson 08/28/21

After making landfall in western Cuba on Friday night as a category 1 hurricane with 80 mph winds, Hurricane Ida is now in the Gulf of Mexico, headed northwest at 15 mph towards Louisiana. Ida…

The New York Times

How is climate change impacting hurricanes?

By Rachel Ramirez, CNN 08/21/21

In the same week that Tropical Storm Fred caused catastrophic flooding in North Carolina, and Hurricane Grace made its second landfall in Mexico, Hurricane Henri is barreling toward New England, where it's expected to be…

The Washington Post

Atlantic hurricane season is on pause. Don’t expect that to last.

By Matthew Cappucci 07/17/21

After starting hurricane season 2021 at a breakneck pace, the oceans look to simmer over the next few weeks, with little in the way of tropical activity in the Atlantic through the end of July.…

E&E NEWS

Climate wreckage along Chesapeake fuels courtroom reckoning

By Maxine Joselow 07/16/21

Jim Foster wonders if he should move away from this idyllic coastal community before the next storm. Foster, 63, has lived here on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay for nearly four decades. But he…

WEATHER.COM

Tropical Storm Danny Made Landfall in South Carolina Just Hours After Forming

06/29/21

Tropical Storm Danny - the fourth named storm of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season - formed off the Southeast coast Monday, then made landfall hours later in South Carolina, and will spread rain into the…

The New York Times

With Start of Hurricane Season, It’s Time to Consider Flood Insurance

By Ann Carrns 06/11/21

This year’s hurricane season began early, with a named storm forming before the official start on June 1, and it is expected to be active. If you lack flood insurance, especially if you live near…

NPR

Expect An Above Average Atlantic Hurricane Season This Year

By Laurel Wamsley 05/20/21

We're likely to see an above-average hurricane season in the Atlantic this year, according to the latest forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The agency predicts 13 to 20 named storms in the…

CNN

NOAA predicts 6th consecutive above-average hurricane season

By Allison Chinchar 05/20/21

The Atlantic hurricane season doesn't officially begin for another 12 days, but the early signs are it may end up being yet another very busy one. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued it's…

The conversation

Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1 – here’s what forecasters are watching right now

By Kristopher Karnauskas 05/19/21

As summer in the Northern Hemisphere approaches, forecasters begin watching every bout of rainy weather between the Gulf of Mexico and Africa. Each counterclockwise swirl of wind or burst of puffy clouds there has the…

NPR

Climate Change’s Impact On Hurricane Sandy Has A Price: $8 Billion

By Nathan Rott 05/18/21

When Hurricane Sandy swept up the Eastern Seaboard in 2012, it left a trail of damage from Florida to Maine. Subways were inundated in New York City. Hurricane-force winds tore across New Jersey. Blizzard conditions…

Yale Climate Connections

Forecasters predict an above-average Atlantic hurricane season in 2021

By Jeff Masters 04/08/21

An above-average Atlantic hurricane season is likely in 2021, the Colorado State University (CSU) hurricane forecasting team says in its latest seasonal forecast issued April 8.

The New York Times

A Small Hint of Big Trouble in the Oceans

By Moises Velasquez-Manoff and Jeremy White 03/03/21

Some scientists fear that meltwater from Greenland may be affecting ocean currents that help regulate far-reaching weather patterns.

The Washington Post

New climate ‘normal’ for Atlantic hurricanes shows more frequent and intense storms

By Matthew Cappucci and Andrew Freedman 03/03/21

Every 10 years, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration revises the baseline of what weather and climate conditions are considered “normal.” The most recent normals for Atlantic hurricane activity will soon be released, and a…

The Washington Post

2020 rivals hottest year on record, pushing Earth closer to a critical climate threshold

By Chris Mooney, Andrew Freedman and John Muyskens 01/15/21

Escalating temperatures poise planet to breach1.5 C for the first time, possibly later this decade

NOAA

2020 North Atlantic Hurricane Season Shatters Records

12/17/20

One of the most remarkable characteristics of the 2020 North Atlantic hurricane season was its extremely high level of activity. The season saw 30 named storms (storms with winds of 39 mph or greater) develop,…

USA Today

Deadly Tropical Storm Eta targets Florida, would be state’s first landfall of historic hurricane season

By John Bacon 11/07/20

Tropical Storm Eta pounded Cuba with strong winds, heavy rains and storm surge Sunday as forecasters warned the deadly storm would strengthen en route to the Florida Keys.

The News&observer

As mold grows in the aftermath of hurricanes, more NC asthma patients suffer

By Lynn Bonner 10/30/20

In North and South Carolina, sea-level rise is most noticeable in counties along the coast, where beaches shrink, dunes disappear and homes crumble, but the effects of climate change reach well inland. “Beyond the Beach”…

Bloomberg Green

‘Nothing Left’: How Back-to-Back Hurricanes Gutted a U.S. Town

By Shannon Sims and Eric Roston 10/11/20

On the day after Hurricane Delta cut its ruinous path across southern Louisiana, Dick Frerks pointed to a lone 20-foot pylon rising from the bayou and summed up what he’d lost.

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