"The brutal wind and torrential rainfall of Hurricane Milton that killed 16 people in Florida this week were worsened by human-caused climate change, a team of international scientists said on Friday.
Global warming made wind speeds around 10% stronger and rainfall greater by between 20% and 30%, according to an analysis by World Weather Attribution. The group of climate scientists studies the role of climate change in fueling extreme weather.
Milton intensified from a Category 1 storm into a tempestuous Category 5 in less than 24 hours, feeding off record- and near-record-warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico. It made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 hurricane.
Previous scientific analyses have shown climate change has made such temperatures in the Gulf between 400 and 800 times more likely."
Gloria Dickie reports for Reuters October 11, 2024.
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"Climate Change Gave Significant Boost To Milton’s Destructive Rain, Winds, Scientists Say" (AP)