After a sluggish start to the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season, Hurricane Fiona has pummeled Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic with strong winds and torrential rain. Now headed for the Turks & Caicos and the Southern Bahamas, Fiona remains a Category 1 storm but may strengthen in the coming days.
While the Atlantic Hurricane Season has historically run from June to November, global warming will certainly extend that period as sea temperatures rise. Though the U.S. had no significant impact from tropical storms or hurricanes through the traditional half-way point, Fiona may portend far more activity in October and November (and possibly beyond).
We do not yet know if climate change will increase the incidence of hurricanes but it is almost certain to augment their severity and extend their season. As sea levels rise, even relatively mild tropical storms will likely produce severe flooding along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts.
