ARE EXTREME STORMS THE NEW NORMAL?

Extreme storms have been part of the Earth’s climate for centuries, but their frequency and intensity have grown in recent decades due to global warming. Warmer oceans, higher atmospheric temperatures, and shifting weather patterns are fueling storms of unprecedented strength, more destructive than ever before. Understanding the history of extreme storms helps illuminate where we are in the fight against climate change – and what we must do to survive.

Historically, hurricanes, typhoons, and tornadoes have shaped the natural landscape and human settlements. The Galveston Hurricane of 1900, which struck the coast of Texas, remains the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, claiming the lives of over 8,000 people. Storms like these, driven by natural climate cycles have been part of the Earth’s weather system for millennia. But it wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution that global warming began altering these natural patterns. By burning fossil fuels – to power cars, planes, machines, and whole factories – we’ve increased the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, trapping heat and disrupting weather systems.

Today, the correlation between warmer seas and stronger hurricanes is well-documented. Hurricanes are fueled by warm water, and as the planet’s oceans absorb heat from climate change, storms like Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, and Hurricane Maria in 2017 have gained power, causing catastrophic damage. These storms are stronger and wetter, as warm air holds more moisture, leading to unprecedented rainfall and flooding.

One of the clearest examples of how climate change is intensifying storms can be seen in America’s hurricane seasons. Before the mid-20th century, it was uncommon to see more than a few major hurricanes each year. However, since the 1980s, the frequency of Category 4 and 5 storms has increased, with 2020 breaking records for the most named storms in a single year — 30. This is largely due to the Atlantic Ocean heating up. These warmer waters provide the energy to sustain hurricanes. The situation is similar in the Pacific, where typhoons have grown more frequent and ferocious.

The increasing frequency of tornadoes is another troubling trend linked to climate change. While tornadoes are not caused by warmer temperatures, climate change has brought shifts in wind patterns and humidity, creating environments conducive to tornadoes forming. That’s why we’re seeing them in places we never have before. States like Kentucky and Mississippi, even New York, have had tornadoes in recent years. The destructive forces are gaining ground.

To make matters worse, climate change also leads to “storm stalling” — where a storm system moves more slowly, hanging over one area and dumping huge amounts of rain on it. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 is a potent example; it lingered over Houston for days, dropping more than 60 inches of rain on the city, causing devastating flooding.

Long before human existence, there were extreme storms, but today’s storms are being supercharged by climate change. And unless we figure out how to turn back time and cool the planet, they’re here to stay. While in the past, storms were deadly and destructive, the frequency, strength, and unpredictability of 21st century hurricanes and tornadoes are terrifying. As the planet continues to heat up, we can expect the cycle to continue.