A recent study published by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group reveals that climate change made Hurricane Helene approximately 10% more intense in terms of torrential rain and powerful winds.
Climate scientist Friederike Otto, heading the research organization, emphasized that while a 10% increase might appear modest, such a change significantly amplifies the impacts and damages caused by the hurricane.
The study further found that fossil fuels, the primary driver of climate change, have made hurricanes like Helene 2.5 times more likely to occur. Previously, storms of Helene's magnitude were expected once every 130 years, but the probability has now increased to roughly once every 53 years on average.
Researchers conducted the study by examining three key factors of Hurricane Helene: precipitation levels, wind speeds, and the water temperature of the Gulf of Mexico, which plays a crucial role in hurricane formation.
Ben Clarke, a co-author of the study and a researcher at Imperial College London, stated, \"All aspects of this event were amplified by climate change to different degrees. And we'll see more of the same as the world continues to warm.\"
The WWA's research comes at a critical time as Florida braces for another major hurricane, Milton, just 10 days after enduring the impacts of Helene.
Reference(s):
Climate change made deadly Hurricane Helene more intense: study
cgtn.com
