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Environment

Extreme hurricane season is here and it is fuelled by climate change

Hurricanes have kept forecasters guessing this year, but with the arrival of intense storms like Helene and Milton it is clear that warming ocean waters are having an effect on the weather

By James Dinneen

9 October 2024

Hurricane Milton approaches Florida

CIRA

Another one? Hurricane Milton, which is barrelling towards Florida’s west coast, is the fifth hurricane to form over the Atlantic in the past two weeks, arriving on the heels of devastating floods brought by Hurricane Helene. This surge of activity feels all the more surprising given it follows an extended lull that had forecasters scratching their heads. But with warmer oceans due mainly to climate change, researchers say this was bound to happen.

“The ceiling was high right at the start of the season and I think this burst is a realisation of that…

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