Climate change triggered intensified rain, wind in Hurricane Milton: experts

The clean-up is still ongoing at Clearwater Beach, Florida after Hurricane Milton hit on Friday. Experts have stated that human-induced climate change has made hurricanes like Milton wetter and windier. According to the World Weather Attribution group, heavy rainfall events associated with Milton are now 20-30% more intense and twice as likely in today’s climate. This increase in intensity also boosted Milton’s wind strength by about 10%, turning it from a Category 2 to a more destructive Category 3 storm. The report was published on October 11, 2024.