Hurricanes, flash floods, tropical storms, and catastrophic rainfall have been words that have been in the news all too often, especially in recent years. There has been a surge in not just the number of hurricanes, but also in the intensity with which they have made landfall. Scientists have found various reasons that account for why these hurricanes have become increasingly destructive. Hurricane Maria, Harvey, and Dorian have been the recent ones, but why has this happening?

First off, the growing intensity of hurricanes over the years is largely due to climate change. However, climate change is a very broad explanation. One particular cause of climate change is intensified storms, especially tropical storms, which is a result of warm sea surface temperatures. As a result of warmer sea surface temperatures, “scientists expect a 2-11 percent increase in average maximum wind speed, with more occurences of the most intense storms,” according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. The increased wind speeds explain why Hurricane Harvey came with such heightened intensity as, “rainfall rates during these storms are projected to increase by about 20 percent,” according to the CCES. This in turn causes mass destruction on land due to flooding.

In addition, climate change has caused sea levels to rise, which makes coastal storms, including hurricanes, more damaging. Sea levels are expected to rise by “1-4 feet during the next century,”(CCES) which will escalate coastal storm surges. One example of rising sea levels impacting the intensity of a storm was in 2012 when Hurricane Sandy struck, causing “an estimated $65 billion in damages in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut,” according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions,with most of the damage being related to coastal flooding.

All in all, climate change and its full impact on storms, as well as hurricanes, is still largely unknown, but so far it seems as though each year will bring even more intense and fast approaching storms than the last. In the meantime, people will have to become more cautious and aware of the effects of climate change and work towards slowing down its rapid pace through new legislation and international climate change accords.