Slow-moving hurricanes can cause more damage to an area as they dwell longer in one spot, inflicting more catastrophe. Unfortunately, these will become more frequent in the future due to the warming planet, experts have said.
Almost 100 computer simulations were run to determine how the climate might look if the Earth warmed by 4C – something which is entirely feasible by the end of the century if fossil fuel usage is not curbed.
The simulations found a 4C temperature rise will cause the westerlies – strong currents blowing through the midlatitudes – to head towards the poles.
With the westerlies dispersed, there will be not enough current to accelerate the speed of the hurricanes’ movements.
This, in turn, leads to the catastrophic storms lingering in a spot for longer, causing much more damage, according to the research published in the journal Science Advances.
Gan Zhang, of Princeton University’s Forrestal campus, said: “Our simulations suggest that future anthropogenic warming could lead to a significant slowing of hurricane motion, particularly in some populated mid-latitude regions.
“This is the first study we are aware of that combines physical interpretation and robust modelling evidence to show that future anthropogenic warming could lead to a significant slowing of hurricane motion.
“We do offer some evidence that there could be a slowdown of translational motion in response to a future warming on the order of 4C.
“Our findings are backed by physics, as captured by our climate models, so that’s a new perspective that offers more confidence than we had before.”
The hurricane season is from June to November when the seas are at their warmest and most humid, creating ripe conditions for a hurricane to develop.
With oceans around the planet warming year-on-year, experts believe this year will be no different in terms of powerful storms.
Last year marked the fourth year in a row for above-normal activity for hurricanes and storms.
In a normal year, scientists expect about 12 storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
However, 2019 saw 18 storms and major hurricanes Dorian, Lorenzo and Humberto, which resulted in £8.8billion ($11billion) in damage.
Weather forecasters AccuWeather have anticipated the same for 2020.
Dan Kottlowksi, AccuWeather’s top hurricane expert, said: “It’s going to be an above-normal season.
“There are a number of analogue years we looked at that certainly show high-impact storms affecting the United States.”
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