Climate Corner: No place is safe from climate change

Oct 5, 2024

Jean Ambrose

editorial@newsandsentinel.com

Many of us have visited the beautiful North Carolina mountains and enjoyed the vibrant community of Asheville, or have friends and family living there. However, Asheville is now unrecognizable due to a hurricane that formed over the warm waters of the Atlantic and intensified over the unusually warm Gulf of Mexico, traveling 600 miles across the Southeast. Early last week, a smaller regional weather disturbance caused two fronts to collide near Asheville, resulting in flooding and saturated ground, only to be further impacted by Hurricane Helene a few days later. The devastation, far from the ocean and high in the mountains where many believe they are safe, is hard to comprehend, and the loss of life in this mostly rural county is heartbreaking.

Some people think their wealth and resources can insulate them from the effects of climate change, but that isn’t the case for those living in Buncombe County, where Asheville is located. Helene destroyed everything in its path, regardless of income level. Increasing weather disasters are making insurance more expensive, as we’ve already seen in Florida and other flood- or fire-prone areas. We can expect a Category 6 storm to occur somewhere in the world each year. Although the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale currently categorizes storms only up to Category 5, some experts advocate for a new Category 6 designation to account for the unprecedented intensity and impacts of storms that have wind speeds exceeding 200 mph, as seen in recent years.

Hurricanes are becoming stronger due to several factors driven by climate change. Warmer ocean temperatures provide more energy to storms, leading to increased intensity. As the planet warms, oceans absorb heat, raising sea surface temperatures. Additionally, higher levels of humidity in the atmosphere enhance the storm’s ability to produce heavy rainfall and stronger winds. This combination creates conditions ripe for more powerful and destructive hurricanes.

In the past decade, five such storms–specifically typhoons in the Pacific–have occurred. Typhoon Patricia, for instance, had wind speeds reaching 215 mph, comparable to a racing car. The Big Bend region of the Florida Panhandle has experienced three hurricanes in just the last 13 months.

The economic impact of climate-related disasters is staggering. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that the U.S. experienced 22 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in 2020 alone. These events strain local and national economies, as costs associated with recovery, repairs, and lost productivity skyrocket. Communities are forced to divert funds from essential services like education and healthcare to cover disaster recovery efforts. Additionally, rising insurance premiums can lead to financial instability for homeowners and businesses alike, making it harder to recover from damages and creating barriers for those seeking coverage.

Ironically, many people moved to Asheville to escape extreme heat, floods, and fires, believing they would be insulated from these risks. Yet, the reach of the climate crisis is consistently underestimated. As North Carolina’s climatologist noted, “If you live in a place that can rain, you live in a place that can flood.” The same holds true for West Virginia, which is increasingly vulnerable to heavy rainfall, landslides, and flooding as climate patterns shift.

The jet stream, which consists of fast-moving air currents circulating above the Earth, influences global weather patterns. Historically, these streams were consistent and strong, but a warming atmosphere has weakened and made them more erratic. Recent studies indicate that the jet stream will become increasingly wavy and stagnant, allowing storms to linger in one area, leading to extreme rainfall. For instance, Hurricane Harvey dropped 60 inches of rain on Houston over just four days in 2017 because the storm stalled in one location.

The reality is that the climate crisis is not a distant threat; it’s a current reality that affects us all, often in ways we don’t immediately recognize. Climate change doesn’t discriminate — it impacts people regardless of where they live or their socioeconomic status. If we dismiss its effects as someone else’s problem, we risk being caught off guard when disaster strikes. Each of us has a role to play in understanding these risks and advocating for proactive measures in our communities. How will you ensure that you and your loved ones are prepared for the challenges ahead?

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Jean Ambrose lives on a ridge near Mountwood Park.