The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was a record-breaker, and it’s raising more concerns about climate change

Dec 8, 2020

Rescue workers are seen on a vehicle crossing a flooded street during Storm Hanna in Apodaca on the outskirts of Monterrey, Mexico

Rescue works cross a flooded street during Storm Hanna in Mexico. Image: REUTERS/Daniel Becerril

James H. Ruppert Jr.

Assistant Research Professor, Penn State

Allison Wing

Assistant Professor of Meteorology, Florida State University

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Tropical storm tracks show how busy the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was.

A map of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. Image: Brian McNoldy

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A heat map showing how atlantic sea surface temperatures in 2020 are warmer than those recorded between 1981 to 2010

Atlantic sea surface temperatures in September 2020 were warmer than the 1981-2010 average. Image: NOAA

A satellite image of Hurricane Iota making landfall in Nicaragua in November 2020.

Satellite instruments capture Hurricane Iota making landfall in Nicaragua on Nov. 16. The image shows the temperature of cloud tops, which tells scientists how tall the clouds are. Image: NOAA; James H. Ruppert Jr.

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