Official announcements from the North Carolina state government

Studies Find Climate Change Intensified Hurricane Helene, Increasing Rainfall by Over 50% and 20 Times More Likely

Oct 2, 2024, 03:30 PM

Two rapid-attribution studies have found that human-caused global warming significantly intensified Hurricane Helene, resulting in much heavier rainfall. The studies indicate that climate change caused over 50% more rainfall during the hurricane in parts of North Carolina, Georgia, and the Carolinas. The observed rainfall was made up to 20 times more likely due to global warming. This increase in rainfall contributed to the storm's destructive power and is part of a trend where storms are intensifying faster and dumping more rain as the climate warms. The first study noted a 50% increase in rain in parts of North Carolina and Georgia. Hurricane Helene is part of a new generation of storms driven by climate change.