Study: Atlantic Hurricanes Now More Likely to Intensify into Major Storm within 24 Hours of Formation

The Associated Press has written an article on a new study from Rowan University that finds Atlantic hurricanes are more likely to intensify from a Category 1 storm to a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) within 24 hours of forming. By comparing tropical cyclones between the period of 1971 to 1990 and 2000 to 2020, the research found the percentage of rapidly intensified storms went from 3.2 percent to 8.1 percent, or over double the increase. This intensification effect occurred more regularly along the East Coast than the Gulf of Mexico.

Andra Garner, the author of the study, stated that with “90% of the excess warming that humans have caused to the planet going into our oceans,” this trend will only continue, creating more situations where the window of time to warn people in the path of a storm has shrunk due to its rapid intensification. Read more at AP News.