How much has climate change goosed hurricane wind strength in last several years?

A recent study published in the journal Environmental Research: Climate reveals that climate change has intensified hurricane wind strength, making Atlantic hurricanes about 18 miles per hour stronger in the last six years. The research found that this increase in wind speed has caused 40 storms to escalate by an entire category on the Saffir-Simpson scale, significantly impacting the potential damage caused by these storms. Notably, three of the storms, including the recent Hurricane Rafael, experienced wind speed increases that allowed them to jump by two categories. Lead study author Daniel Gilford from Climate Central emphasizes that while the overall number of hurricanes has not increased, the intensity of the most powerful storms has escalated substantially, leading to catastrophic impacts. The analysis indicates that without human-caused climate change, two of the Category 5 storms observed in 2024 would not have occurred.

The study underscores the urgent need for action to address climate change, as the damage caused by hurricanes scales dramatically with their intensity. As communities increasingly face the consequences of more powerful storms, this research highlights the critical importance of understanding the relationship between climate change and hurricane strength. The findings serve as a wake-up call for policymakers and individuals alike to prioritize climate action.