Researchers are already predicting that the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season will be an above-average active season. Climate change data shows that more areas are becoming resilient against these stronger, wetter and slower-moving storms.
Because scientists predict that slow storms will be the new norm, inland areas also need to be prepared, according to Rick Luettich, director of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Institute of Marine Sciences.
“All of the effects of the storms themselves seem like they are getting a bit worse with our changing climate, then you add on top of that sea-level rise, which again is driven by the climate change. So that brings the ocean water closer and closer to our doorstep,” he said. “So a surge of six feet with sea-level rise is now a surge of seven feet and that could be the difference between it being at your house versus in your yard.”