“Hurricane Helene: A Category 4 Storm Making Landfall – Are You Prepared?”

Hurricane Helene made landfall as a major Category 4 hurricane, bringing powerful winds and flooding rains to Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. The storm rapidly intensified from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane within two days of forming in the northwestern Caribbean Sea. This rapid intensification process, where wind speeds increase significantly in a short period, is becoming more common due to warmer ocean temperatures caused by climate change.

Experts warn that the combination of warmer ocean waters and higher sea levels is leading to more intense and destructive storms like Hurricane Helene. Jill Trepanier, a hurricane climatologist and professor of geography at Louisiana State University, explains the connection between warm oceans and heavy rainfall, as well as the impact of climate change on future storms.

Communities hundreds of miles inland have been advised to prepare for the impact of Hurricane Helene, as the storm’s effects are expected to be felt far beyond the coastal areas. To stay updated on local developments related to the storm, residents are encouraged to follow local updates on Hurricane Helene.

For more information on the scientific aspects of severe weather events, listeners can reach out to Short Wave at [email protected]. The podcast covers a wide range of topics related to climate change, weather, and environmental science. Short Wave can be listened to on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and listeners can support the show by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

The episode discussing Hurricane Helene was produced by Hannah Chinn, edited by Rebecca Ramirez, and fact-checked by Rebecca, Rachel Carlson, and Tyler Jones. Robert Rodriguez served as the audio engineer for the episode.