The politics of climate change are in focus with Florida bracing for Hurricane Milton’s landfall just weeks after the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.
The storm rapidly intensified to a Category 5 hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico in less than 24 hours, with winds reaching 180 mph. As of this morning, the storm’s strength has diminished to a Category 4. But according to the National Hurricane Center, it still retains the potential to cause significant damage.
Gulf residents have faced increasing challenges from ocean storms.
Currently, Florida residents are grappling with rising insurance premiums as national insurers leave the market. With expectations that Milton will cause billions of dollars in damage, the cost of insurance for coastal residents could continue to increase.
Milton’s sudden emergence was unexpected but not unusual. The National Weather Service defines “rapid intensification” as a tropical cyclone that achieves a sustained wind speed increase of at least 35 mph within 24 hours. This phenomenon occurs due to warm sea surface temperatures. The deeper the layer of warmth in the ocean, the more intense a hurricane can become.
Scientists have warned that rapidly intensifying storms have been occurring more frequently over the past two decades, with global warming widely believed to be responsible. Florida has been an epicenter of this trend, experiencing four major storms in four consecutive years.
In a different political era, the Florida government might prioritize mitigating the effects of global warming. Instead, the state’s current leadership has pushed back on climate science.
In May, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law that forbids any mention of global warming in state legislation.
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