oceanlove

June 1 marked the start of hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean. And as Earth’s climate changes, hurricanes are changing too. 🌀 Hurricanes are not becoming more frequent during the official season, which lasts from June 1 to November 30; however, when they do form, hurricanes are more likely to become much stronger (Category 4 or 5) in a warmer world. Tropical cyclones are also becoming slower and wetter. As oceans warm, hurricanes are more likely to undergo rapid intensification – when wind speeds increase by 35+ mph in 24 hours. Sea level rise is also worsening storm surge from hurricanes, increasing coastal flood risk during storms. Image description: Satellite image of Hurricane Lee, a large storm with a spiral of puffy white clouds, taken on September 12, 2023. Below is the blue water of the Atlantic Ocean. To the left, the green land of the southeast U.S., Florida, and Cuba are visible. Batten down the hatches, hurricane season is here! High winds, coas...