Recent increase in major Atlantic hurricanes may be ‘rebound’ after 1960-1980s lull

Jul 20, 2021

Tropical cyclones are powerful storms that develop in the warm ocean waters of the tropics. Image: NASA

Robert McSweeney

Science Editor, Carbon Brief

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Aerial view of Gulfport, Mississippi, showing flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Camille 1969. Image: Granger Historical Picture Archive / Alamy Stock Photo.

North Atlantic missing storm adjustment (red lines) and adjusted basin-wide hurricane counts (dark blue lines) for all hurricanes (left) and major hurricanes (right) between 1851 and 2019. Image: Vecchi et al. (2021)

Flood damage along the Choluteca River caused by Hurricane Mitch 1998. Image: Hum Images / Alamy Stock Photo.

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