Porter Fox: Hurricane Milton shows supercharged storms are here to stay

As Hurricane Milton nears Florida with record winds of 180 mph, the rise in extreme storms is linked to fossil fuel-driven climate change and is expected to worsen, threatening regions far beyond the traditional hurricane belt.

Porter Fox writes for The New York Times.

In short:

• Hurricanes are becoming more intense, lasting longer, and reaching farther inland due to global warming, raising risks for areas previously unaffected.
• Studies suggest that storm patterns may shift, with tropical cyclones increasingly impacting the Northeast and even inland states like Michigan and Iowa.
• Recovery efforts often lag, as shown by the slow cleanup after Hurricane Helene, and unpreparedness could exacerbate damage from future storms.

Key quote:

“Supercharged hurricanes are no longer outliers, freak disasters or storms of the century.”

— Porter Fox, author and journalist

Why this matters:

Hurricanes fueled by climate change pose a growing threat, not just to coastal communities but to regions unaccustomed to such weather. Adapting infrastructure and disaster preparedness policies will be essential to reduce future damage and casualties.

Read more:

• Hurricanes are becoming harder to predict and evacuate for
• Hurricanes are becoming less predictable and more dangerous
• Hurricane Milton will be an election season political test