Violent Hurricanes Expected in the Gulf Coast After the Wettest Year on Record

The threat of tropical storms has often plagued the southern states. However, this year, increased precipitation and rising water levels caused by global warming will only intensify the storms in the area.

Experts have been sounding the alarm that the season will experience a “hyperactive hurricane season” on top of the already wet and stormy weather seen in southern Louisiana and Texas.

This forecast is the most aggressive storm warning the NOAA has issued. At a news conference, NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said, “This season is looking to be an extraordinary one in a number of ways.”

On top of the added moisture, the Gulf Coast has been steadily rising due to polar ice caps melting attributed to global warming.

The dry ground rejects water, which usually increases the risk of flooding and landslides. The added moisture affects hurricane season because the ground has already absorbed all the water it can take. Added precipitation and flooding caused by hurricanes will overload infrastructure much worse than they usually do.

The soil in the south can only absorb a few inches of rain each month. But with the added stress from sea level rise, many coastal regions have been overly diluted with water.

However, a recent deluge of rain during the spring months has brought almost a year’s worth of precipitation.

Now, the Gulf Coast is set to expect one of the most violent hurricane seasons on record. Climatologists note that the shifting climate tends to supercharge rainfall during these storms. Rising sea levels also increase the risk of massive floods, which will likely cause billions in infrastructural damage.

The coastal regions surrounding the Gulf should exhibit heavy tropical storms throughout the summer. Residents in the area have been told to plan ahead for emergencies and evacuations at a moment’s notice.

Massive tropical storms are expected to dump an unprecedented amount of water in coastal regions, and flooding is expected to be seen further inland than ever before. Ironically, the flooding may not be as intense if an early summer heatwave bakes the Earth and evaporates any extra moisture.

Like last year, the area could see unprecedented droughts after the onslaught of a heat dome. Tropical storms typically become more violent with warmer weather. So, the damage from a hurricane in warmer weather might be associated with high winds instead of widespread flooding.

Warm ocean water will act like kindling to a fire. Warm water only intensifies storm systems and helps them form, strengthen, and survive much longer than if the water was cooler. Off the charts, ocean heat in the Atlantic is already worrying experts who fear more storms and flooding will occur as global warming becomes worse.