Recent research reveals that hurricanes in 2024 have been significantly stronger than those a century ago, primarily due to rising ocean temperatures linked to climate change. The study, conducted by Climate Central, analyzed the intensity of Atlantic hurricanes from 2019 to 2023, noting that 30 hurricanes increased by one category on the five-point scale, with three reaching category five.
One notable hurricane, Milton, struck Florida in October 2024, exemplifying this trend. Daniel Gilford, a researcher involved in the study, emphasized that record sea temperatures, driven by human-induced carbon emissions, exacerbate the devastation caused by these storms.
Michel Tjernström, a meteorology professor at Stockholm University, corroborated the findings, indicating that while the study does not suggest hurricanes are increasing in frequency, they are becoming more intense on average. This research highlights the challenges in modeling such storms and underscores the urgent need to address climate change impacts.