Surge in Extreme Hurricanes: How Warming Oceans Are Doubling Nature's Fury

Share this @internewscast.com

Jeff Berardelli serves as the Chief Meteorologist and Climate Specialist at WFLA. To get the latest insights on Tampa Bay’s weather and climate developments, follow him on X and Bluesky.

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — With its formidable strength, Hurricane Melissa ranks among the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic. But does this mean climate change is making hurricanes more intense?

The quick answer is no. To substantiate the impact of climate change, a far more extensive record is needed.

Nevertheless, existing data indicates a notable rise in the frequency of the most intense hurricanes and the speed at which these storms gather strength.

Hurricane Melissa is anticipated to near Bermuda today, according to the National Hurricane Center.

While Hurricane Melissa stands out as one of the most severe hurricanes in the Atlantic, it’s important to note that history has seen similar storms, like the Labor Day hurricane of 1935. Considering that the significant effects of climate change began only in recent decades, it’s evident that the 1935 hurricane reached a level of intensity akin to Melissa without the influence of climate change.

To determine this, Max Defender 8 Chief Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli looked at extreme hurricanes — category 4s and 5s — since 1980, breaking them up into two equal length periods.

From 1980 to 2002, there were 30 extreme hurricanes. But from 2003 to 2025 there have been 57 — nearly double. This is shown in the comparison below.

This spike in intense hurricanes is at least partly due to warmer waters. For instance, the water under Melissa was 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit above recent normals, and likely 4 degrees Fahrenheit above ocean temps 100 years ago. That is a huge amount of extra heat to super charge hurricanes.

In the image below, you can see that the vast majority of global oceans have warmed over the past few decades. That’s because 90% of the excess heat from greenhouse warming is stored in our oceans.

Berardelli also looked at “extreme rapid intensification (RI)” during the same two periods. That’s when hurricanes intensify extremely fast, defined as 70 mph of strengthening in 24 hours.

It turns out the impact there is even more astonishing. In the early period, only three storms matched that criteria. But in the more recent period, 18 storms achieved extreme RI.

Rapid intensification is a calling card of climate change, with studies finding that has been increasing every decade since the 1970s, by about 5 mph per decade. So that means a storm today will, on average, rapidly intensify at a rate about 20 mph faster than it would have 40 years ago.

Now, getting back to Melissa. Hurricane hunters recorded a record setting wind speed of 252 mph, 700 feet above the ground. Many experts believe this will lead the National Hurricane Center to upgrade Melissa in post season analysis to potentially the strongest Atlantic hurricane on record.

Climate Central did an analysis and found that the hot Caribbean water under Melissa was made 800 times more likely by manmade climate change and thus the storm’s wind and rain was made more intense.

Share this @internewscast.com

Facebook X Reddit Pinterest

Surge in Extreme Hurricanes: How Warming Oceans Are Doubling Nature’s Fury

Up next

Federal Authorities Conduct Major New Jersey Workplace Raid, Detaining Numerous Undocumented Individuals

Author

Internewscast

Tags

Share this @internewscast.com

ARC&D Develops Innovative Riverbank Stabilization Strategies Post-Hurricane Helene: Pioneering Playbook for Future Resilience

Elite Colleges Shift Focus to Economic Diversity in Admissions Amid Affirmative Action Changes

Kingsport Police Discover 22 Dogs Living in Squalor: A Shocking Case of Animal Neglect

Urgent Gas Line Repairs Force Closure of North Side Elementary in Johnson City

SpaceX Prepares for Florida Launch: Starlink Satellites Set for Orbit

Lawsuit Claims Visitor Attacked by Security Dog at Universal Orlando

Tragic Turn: First Civilian Casualties in Escalating Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict

Judge Approves Release of Sealed Records in Epstein’s 2019 Sex Trafficking Case

Bronx Resident Faces Court Over Shooting Incident Involving Jets Player Kris Boyd

Study Reveals Climate Change’s Role in Intensifying Asia’s Deadly Floods Through Ocean Warming

Historic Oscars Milestone: Casting Directors Honored for the First Time, Shining a Spotlight on Crucial Film Industry Role

Devastating Drone Strike on Sudan Oil Field Escalates Tensions, Jeopardizes South Sudan’s Economy

Public Voices Rise: Debating City Council Salaries, Supporting Isolated Seniors, and Embracing Vegan Holidays

Australia Rolls Out Updated COVID-19 Vaccine for Latest Variant

Terrifying Home Invasion: Masked Intruders Caught on Camera in Shocking Bedroom Break-In

Authorities Discover Silicone Mask, Grenade, Firearms, and 15,000 Rounds of Ammunition in Storage Unit Investigation

Surge in Extreme Hurricanes: How Warming Oceans Are Doubling Nature’s Fury

Up next

Author

Internewscast

Tags

Share this @internewscast.com

You May Also Like