The high sea surface temperatures that helped both storms intensify were 200 to 500 times more likely because of climate change, the report found. As Hurricane Milton barrels toward Florida’s west coast, a new report estimates how much more intense Hurricane Helene’s winds and rain were because of climate change. The sea surface temperatures that propelled Helene and Milton were 200 to 500 times more likely because of climate change, the report found. They found that coastal rainfall totals that high were 40% more likely because of climate change and that inland totals that high were 70% more likely because of climate change. Damaged structures in downtown Chimney Rock, N.C., after the passage of Hurricane Helene on Oct. 2.

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Persons: Milton, Friederike Otto, Hurricane, Hurricane Milton, Helene, ”, Bernadette Woods Placky, Hurricane Helene, Allison Joyce, Otto Organizations: Imperial College London, Florida NOAA, Climate, Weather, Getty Locations: Hurricane, Gulf, Mexico, Florida, Bend, Florida’s, North Carolina, Tennessee, Appalachia, Chimney, N.C, Milton