Is global warming causing more intense hurricanes? Is hurricane damage increasing?
Possibly. Warmer ocean temperatures can strengthen the hurricane’s intensity. Recent scientific evidence suggests a link between the destructive power of hurricanes and higher ocean temperatures, driven in large part by global warming. In addition, even the gradual sea-level rise accompanying global warming increases the storm surge. With rapid population growth in coastal regions placing many more people and structures in the path of these storms, there is a much greater risk of casualties, property damage, and financial hardship when these storms make landfall.
