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Climate Change Intensified Hurricane Milton in Florida, Scientists Say

Oct 11, 2024, 04:20 PM

Human-induced climate change significantly intensified Hurricane Milton, which hit Florida this week, according to a rapid analysis by scientists. The storm, which resulted in the deaths of 16 people, experienced at least 20% more rain and 10% stronger winds than it would have in a world without human-induced warming. Researchers found that global warming increased the storm's destructive rain and winds, making it more severe than it might have been otherwise. The analysis suggests that without climate change, Hurricane Milton might have made landfall as a weaker Category 2 storm. This underscores the growing impact of climate change on extreme weather events.