Satellite image showing a rapidly intensifying blizzard off the northeastern United States on January 4, 2018, captured by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A new study reveals that the most powerful nor’easters, notorious for wreaking havoc along the US East Coast with relentless rain, snow, and flooding, are being amplified by the impacts of climate pollution.
Nor’easters, typically forming between September and April, draw their energy from the clash between frigid Arctic air from the north and warm, moist air from the Atlantic Ocean. These storms pose a significant threat to heavily populated cities along the East Coast, with recent decades witnessing catastrophic nor’easters that have earned infamous nicknames resembling titles of disaster movies.
Events like the “Storm of the Century” in March 1993 and “Snowmageddon” in 2010 have left a lasting impact, with record-breaking snowfall and devastating consequences. Dr. Michael Mann, a climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania and a co-author of the study, draws upon personal experiences during these storms to examine the influence of global warming on their behavior.
Research indicates that while a warmer climate may lead to fewer nor’easters due to diminishing temperature differentials, their intensity is on the rise. By analyzing historical data and utilizing a cyclone tracking algorithm, researchers discovered a notable 6% increase in maximum wind speeds of the most severe nor’easters since 1940. This seemingly small increment translates to a significant 20% surge in destructive potential, highlighting the amplified risks associated with these storms.
Moreover, the study shows a 10% rise in precipitation rates during nor’easters, attributed to heightened evaporation from warmer air and oceans. The escalating intensity of these storms underscores the urgent need to comprehend how they will evolve in a warmer world, as highlighted by past catastrophic events like the “Ash Wednesday” storm in 1962.
The findings emphasize the underestimated flood risks faced by numerous East Coast cities, urging further research and preparedness measures to mitigate the impact of these increasingly potent nor’easters.
According to Mann, the neglect of nor’easters is contributing to increased coastal risk, an issue that has not received enough attention. Jennifer Francis, a senior scientist at Woodwell Climate Research Center, emphasized the importance of better preparedness, noting that proactive measures are more cost-effective than post-storm recovery. The study’s significance lies in its illumination of the various ways the climate crisis manifests, as highlighted by MIT climatologist Judah Cohen. Despite the overall trend of warming temperatures and shorter snow seasons in the US, there will still be instances of heavy snowfall and extreme cold, Mann explained. These individual events may have a more significant impact. To stay updated with more news from CNN, sign up for an account on CNN.com.
