Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/hurricane-flooding-deaths-now-outpace-wind-and-surge-risks-as-climate-change-intensifies-rainfall/
El cambio climático está intensificando las lluvias de los huracanes, contribuyendo a inundaciones mortales – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Freshwater flooding from hurricanes has accounted for more than half of all direct deaths since 2013. The pattern reflects a broader shift in how these storms affect communities, with inland waters claiming more lives than high winds or coastal surges in recent years. Experts note that the danger is expected to grow as rising global temperatures alter storm behavior.
The Changing Face of Hurricane Fatalities
Direct deaths from hurricanes have long been associated with wind damage and storm surge along coastlines. Yet data compiled since 2013 reveal that flooding from heavy rainfall now drives the majority of fatalities. This inland threat often catches residents off guard, particularly in areas far from the coast where evacuation plans focus on wind and waves rather than rising rivers and overwhelmed drainage systems.
Communities in low-lying regions have experienced repeated episodes where slow-draining floodwaters trapped residents in homes or vehicles. The shift underscores how rainfall totals, rather than peak wind speeds, increasingly determine the human toll during these events.
How Climate Change Alters Storm Rainfall
Warmer air can hold more moisture, allowing hurricanes to produce greater volumes of rain over the same period. This physical process contributes to the heavier downpours…
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Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-05-11 13:15:00
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