The 2024 hurricane season left an indelible mark, setting unprecedented records and affecting millions of lives across the United States. As winter sets in with record cold and snow, the impact of the past hurricane season continues to resonate.
Recent coverage by WTOL 11 Weather Impact provided a comprehensive look back at the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, highlighting the year’s significant events and pondering future implications of a warming climate.
Understanding the 2024 Hurricane Season
The 2024 hurricane season was notable for its intensity and frequency of storms. Beginning with warm Gulf waters in June, the season saw a total of 18 named storms, 11 of which became hurricanes, and five that intensified to major status. This aligns with predictions from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, which forecast above-average activity. Five hurricanes made landfall in the continental U.S., causing widespread damage, particularly along the Gulf Coast.
June marked the season’s start with Hurricane Beryl, which rapidly intensified from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane, setting records as the strongest early-season storm. After initially making landfall in Mexico, Beryl re-strengthened before hitting Texas, spawning numerous tornadoes.
Hurricane Highlights
Following Beryl, the season paused due to Saharan dust, which inhibited storm development. This lull ended with Hurricane Debby, which impacted Florida and the Carolinas with heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and tornadoes.
Hurricane Francine followed, forming off Africa’s coast and tracking to Louisiana, where it made landfall in September. Francine brought significant rainfall and was part of a busy mid-September to October period.
Hurricane Helene became one of the most destructive storms, making landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane and causing historic flooding in the Appalachians and Carolinas. It resulted in significant loss of life and economic damage estimated to surpass $50 billion.
Later in the season, Hurricane Milton threatened the U.S. again, reaching Category 5 strength before weakening to Category 3 upon hitting Florida. Milton’s impact included tornadoes and coastal flooding.
Climate Change and Future Concerns
The 2024 season underscored the potential future of hurricane activity in a warming climate. Rapid intensification, where a storm’s wind speed increases dramatically within a short period, has become more common, with 79% of tropical cyclones experiencing it over the past 50 years. This trend is expected to continue as ocean temperatures rise, possibly leading to more frequent and intense hurricanes.
Without significant efforts to mitigate climate change, the frequency of major hurricanes and their destructive potential is likely to increase, posing a growing threat to coastal and inland communities alike.
Original Story at www.wtol.com