The area has not taken a direct hit from a hurricane in over 100 years. But its topography and dense population make it especially susceptible to severe damage from storm surges.
hurricane season
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Climate change made Helene more dangerous. It also makes similar storms more likely
Researchers found that Hurricane Helene was stronger, rainier, and significantly more likely because of climate change. The U.S. can expect more such storms in the future as warming continues.
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Are hurricanes getting worse? Here’s what you need to know
Climate change hasn’t increased the total number of hurricanes hitting the U.S., but it is making dangerous storms more common.
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Hurricane Milton reaches Category 4 strength days before it’s poised to hit Florida
Milton rapidly intensified into a Category 4 storm Monday morning and is forecast to make landfall in Florida midweek. The state could see its largest evacuation orders since 2017.
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An intensifying Helene approaches Florida as southeastern states brace for impact
Helene strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane as it nears northwest Florida, where it is poised to make landfall late Thursday. It’s forecast to bring heavy wind and rain hundreds of miles inland.
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Some don’t evacuate despite repeated hurricane warnings — because they can’t
People with disabilities, people who can’t afford it and people who don’t want to abandon their pets are among the many who can’t easily get up and leave before a hurricane.
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Tropical Storm Helene is forecast to become a major hurricane as it nears Florida
Helene is forecast to intensify rapidly over the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall in Florida on Thursday. Residents are urged to make preparations — and in many counties, evacuate — before then.
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Tropical Storm Helene threatens the U.S., Mexico
Tropical Storm Helene’s trajectory threatens the Florida panhandle, which forecasters say could be hit on Thursday. Meteorologists say this system will be particularly big — with a wide wind field.
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La Niña is likely to arrive this summer. Here’s what that means for hurricane season
Forecasters say the warming climate pattern El Niño is officially over. Its cooling counterpart, La Niña, could develop as soon as July — just in time to exacerbate an above-average hurricane season.
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FAQ: 5 things to know about weather forecasts and climate change
Climate change means more extreme weather across the U.S. That’s a challenge for weather forecasters.