The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season: A Record-Breaking and Devastating Season
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season came to a close on Saturday, leaving behind a trail of destruction and death hundreds of miles from where storms made landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast. Meteorologists described the season as “crazy busy” due to unusually warm ocean temperatures.
Notable Storms of the 2024 Season
Hurricane Beryl became the first Category 4 hurricane on record to form in the month of June, hitting the island of Carriacou in Grenada. In Jamaica, it destroyed crops and houses, leaving two dead. This was the first time the island was affected by a Category 4 hurricane since Dean in 2007, making it “pretty rare,” said Brian McNoldy, a hurricane researcher at the University of Miami. The storm then intensified into the earliest Category 5 hurricane ever in the Atlantic on July 1.
Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic damage across the southeastern U.S. and was the deadliest storm to hit the U.S. mainland since Katrina in 2005. More than 200 people died. North Carolina estimates the storm caused at least $48.8 billion in direct or indirect damages, with houses, drinking water systems, farms, and forests destroyed. Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia also sustained extensive damage.
Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified and its maximum wind speeds hit a screaming 180 mph, making it one of the strongest hurricanes by wind speed ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico. The only one stronger by that measure was Hurricane Rita in 2005.
Hurricane Rafael reached 120 mph and was nearly the strongest November hurricane on record in the Gulf of Mexico, tying with Hurricane Kate in 1985. Rafael made landfall in Cuba and battered the island as it was trying to recover from widespread blackouts caused by Hurricane Oscar in October.
Hurricane Season and Climate Change
Planet-warming gases like carbon dioxide and methane released by transportation and industry are causing oceans to rapidly warm. Several factors contribute to the formation of hurricanes, but unusually warm oceans allow hurricanes to form and intensify in places and times we don’t normally anticipate, McNoldy said.
“In other words, we never had a storm as strong as Beryl so early in the season anywhere in the Atlantic and we never had a storm as strong as Milton so late in the season in the Gulf of Mexico,” he said.
“I don’t ever point to climate change as causing a specific weather event, but it certainly has its finger on the scale and makes these extreme storms more likely to occur,” said McNoldy.
Conclusion
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season was marked by unprecedented storms, destruction, and loss of life. While it is difficult to pinpoint a single cause, climate change plays a significant role in the formation and intensification of hurricanes. As the world continues to warm, it is essential to take steps to mitigate the impact of these extreme weather events and prepare for the future.
FAQs
Q: What were the notable storms of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season?
A: Hurricane Beryl, Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton, and Hurricane Rafael were the most notable storms of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
Q: What was the impact of Hurricane Helene?
A: Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic damage across the southeastern U.S. and was the deadliest storm to hit the U.S. mainland since Katrina in 2005, resulting in over 200 deaths and $48.8 billion in damages.
Q: What was the impact of Hurricane Milton?
A: Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified and its maximum wind speeds hit a screaming 180 mph, making it one of the strongest hurricanes by wind speed ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico.
Q: How does climate change affect hurricane formation and intensity?
A: Climate change, specifically the warming of oceans, allows hurricanes to form and intensify in places and times we don’t normally anticipate, making extreme storms more likely to occur.
