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As climate change accelerates, hurricanes are becoming more intense and destructive, bringing heavier rains, stronger winds and devastating storm surges. Hurricanes Helene and Milton serve as stark examples of this—both storms grew stronger due to the warmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico and left behind flooded cities and overwhelmed communities.

To gain a deeper insight into how climate change is fueling hurricanes, The Daily sat down with Peter Whiting, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of earth, environmental, and planetary sciences at Case Western Reserve University.

1. Warming temperatures drive heavier rain

As the planet warms, more water evaporates from the land surface and oceans into a warmer atmosphere. For every 1°C increase in temperature, the atmosphere can hold 7% more water vapor. This means that when it rains, there is more moisture available to fall as precipitation. In a warmer world, we see more frequent and larger floods due to heavier rainfall.

2. Warmer oceans fuel hurricanes

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