On October 2, 2024, Hurricane Helene and a preceding rainstorm unleashed an unprecedented 40 trillion gallons of rain across the Southeast United States, leading to catastrophic flooding and over 100 confirmed deaths. This staggering volume of rain is enough to fill the Dallas Cowboys' stadium 51,000 times and has resulted in apocalyptic flood damage, with North Carolina experiencing the highest rainfall totals, including a record 31.33 inches in Busick.
Experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have described the rainfall as the largest ever recorded in their experience, attributing the deluge to a combination of multiple storm systems and climate change. The storms have been exacerbated by geographical factors, particularly the mountainous regions, which intensified the rainfall through orographic lift.
As climate change continues to influence weather patterns, meteorologists note that storms are becoming wetter and more intense. A preliminary analysis suggests that climate change may have increased rainfall amounts by 50% in some regions affected by Helene. The implications of these extreme weather events are profound, highlighting the urgent need for global climate action to mitigate future disasters.