Posted: in Hurricanes
Storm season is upon us, and once again, it seems that this year’s will be a bad one. The 2021 season comes on the heels of the 2020 season, which saw the most active storm season of all time, if not the worst. In fact, the record for severity was set in 2005, when eight hurricanes reached Category 3 status or higher. Three of those hurricanes were a Category 5, including Hurricane Katrina, which devastated much of New Orleans and killed more than 1,500 people.
However, even if 2020 was not on par with 2005 storm season, it’s hard to deny that in the last decade-plus, these extreme weather events have intensified, in both severity and frequency. Why does storm season keep getting worse? What’s driving this rise in hurricanes? The answer: it’s complicated.
The Relationship Between Hurricane Season & Climate Change
Above average sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, as well as a strong African monsoon season and reduced wind shear, have all been driving factors in the severity of recent storm seasons. This warm phase cycle has been intensifying since the mid-1990s, but what exactly is causing this intensification? Scientists can’t ignore one factor: climate change.
Essentially, what it all comes down to is the fact that the temperature of ocean water is going up. A hotter atmosphere can also hold more water, which allows hurricanes to dump more water on vulnerable areas. However, just because climate change is occurring, and the ocean temperature is getting hotter, does not mean that is the sole reason we’re seeing so many tropical storms.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, has found that 2020’s intense climate cycle was also due in part to Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), which makes the North Atlantic Ocean warmer or cooler every few decades. As a result, scientists aren’t certain which influence is greater—is it climate change that’s causing this steady rise in storms? Or the AMO fluctuating the way it does every few generations?
FP Property Restoration Is Here No Matter What
One thing is for certain: climate change is real, and it’s not going away overnight. So whether it is the AMO that’s caused this generational uptick in storms, the worsening effects of global warming, or some combination of both, it is likely that we will continue to see more extreme weather events in the foreseeable future.
Luckily, another thing that is for certain is FP Property Restoration’s commitment to our customers. Our award-winning cleaning, repair, and restoration team provide expert catastrophe response service, so we can get your property up and running again ASAP following a natural disaster. Our team is available 24/7, so when a hurricane does strike, we can get to work immediately helping your home or business recover. With a range of options including water removal and structural drying following floods, to mold remediation and leak detection to protect your property moving forward, our technicians will ensure you receive comprehensive service throughout every step of the restoration process. And with a great reputation across the area, you already know you are making the right decision by hiring the experts at FP Property Restoration.
Don’t find yourself unprepared this storm season! Call FP Property Restoration now at (888) 408-2335, or contact us online for more information. And remember, we are available 24/7 for emergency water damage service and more!