Climate change key driver of catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Helene that devastated both coastal and inland communities

The analysis finds that climate change made rainfall approximately 10% heavier in both the coastal and inland regions affected by Hurricane Helene and increased the likelihood of such rainfall totals by 40% and 70%, respectively. The study also indicates that climate change increased the number of storms with similar wind speeds by about 150% and made the record-hot sea surface temperatures over the storm's track 200-500 times more likely. While the storm was well-forecast, high death tolls occurred inland due to mountainous terrain, poor infrastructure, and a lack of experience with hurricanes.

• Climate change increased rainfall by approximately 10% in both the coastal and inland regions. Consequently, the likelihood of the 2-day rainfall maxima in the coastal region and the 3-day maxima in the inland region increased by about 40% and 70%, respectively.
• Human-induced climate change increased the frequency of storms with wind speeds similar to Hurricane Helene by about 150%, shifting the average occurrence from once every 130 years to once every 53 years. Maximum wind speeds for such storms are now approximately 11% (6.1 m/s) more intense.
• The record-hot sea surface temperatures (SSTs) along the track of Hurricane Helene were made 200-500 times more likely due to the burning of fossil fuels. Additionally, the likelihood of the potential intensity observed in September around the storm's track increased by a factor of 18.
• Despite accurate forecasting by NOAA, significant fatalities occurred in inland mountainous regions where residents faced challenges including limited evacuation infrastructure, spotty communication services, and a lack of experience with hurricanes.
• Existing flood protection infrastructure in the inland region is inadequate for managing heavy rain that triggers landslides and mudslides in mountainous areas, and many dams and drainage systems in the region are in a state of disrepair.

APA

World Weather Attribution (2024). Climate change key driver of catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Helene that devastated both coastal and inland communities. https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/climate-change-key-driver-of-catastrophic-impacts-of-hurricane-helene-that-devastated-both-coastal-and-inland-communities/

Chicago

World Weather Attribution. Climate change key driver of catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Helene that devastated both coastal and inland communities. 2024. https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/climate-change-key-driver-of-catastrophic-impacts-of-hurricane-helene-that-devastated-both-coastal-and-inland-communities/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Weather Attribution |title=Climate change key driver of catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Helene that devastated both coastal and inland communities |date=9 October 2024 |url=https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/climate-change-key-driver-of-catastrophic-impacts-of-hurricane-helene-that-devastated-both-coastal-and-inland-communities/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldweatherattribution2024climate, author = {{World Weather Attribution}}, title = {{Climate change key driver of catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Helene that devastated both coastal and inland communities}}, institution = {World Weather Attribution}, year = {2024}, month = oct, url = {https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/climate-change-key-driver-of-catastrophic-impacts-of-hurricane-helene-that-devastated-both-coastal-and-inland-communities/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }