New England Hurricane: Florida and the Caribbean always have worse weather than New England. When Hurricane Lee hit on a bad weekend, it highlighted ongoing climate change. Scientists predict that storms like Hurricane Lee may occur more often as the world changes and impact new areas, like the Gulf of Maine.
This change is due to nature’s dance. Studies show climate change increases storms in mid-latitudes. In these areas, water is warming, and jet streams are shifting.
Joshua Studholme from Yale University says jet stream changes and warming seas boost storm formation in mid-latitude areas. This change suggests that storms in regions like New England could happen more often, become more robust, and last longer.
Computer models suggest storms in the Atlantic would shift north and east. They would fly nearer to beaches, increasing danger in cities like Boston, New York, and Norfolk, Virginia. Hurricanes slow near the U.S. East Coast. It worsened the issues caused by winds and waves.
Andra Garner, the study leader and assistant professor of environmental science at Rowan University, said slower storm movement along the East Coast of the U.S. will prolong their destructive power.
MIT’s Kerry Emanuel forecasts more storms and rainfall in parts of Maine. Emanuel predicts more storms with strong winds and heavy rain. He has a home in Maine.
READ MORE: New England Weather Woes: Hurricane Lee Threatens Amid Ongoing Deluge
The Gulf of Maine warms quickly due to warming seas, contributing to this trend. This water body had its 2nd hottest year in 2022. The average temperature in the past 40 years was 3.7 degrees Fahrenheit, colder than today.
Higher sea temperatures can intensify storms. Lee moved to New England and eastern Canada during the storm. It caused waves, winds, and rain.
Storms are rare in New England, but many severe weather incidents have occurred. After the 1938 hurricane, storms like Carol, Edna, and Hurricane Bob had lasting impacts. Recent storms, such as Superstorm Sandy (2012) and Tropical Storm Irene (2011), showed the area’s susceptibility to severe weather.
Experts recommend fortifying dams, infrastructure, and coastal areas against future stormschanges needed for flood zones, shoreline protection, and waste reduction. New England’s climate change impacts future and town safety from nature’s power.