We need a new hurricane rating scale. What worked in 1971 won't work in 2024. The Saffir-Simpson scale quantifies the impact of high winds on coastal communities. Category 1-5 storms are ranked based on wind speed. Yet much of the flooding (from heavy rain, not storm surge) is inland, days after landfall.
Meteorologists fixate on where the storm will hit and how high the winds/surge will be, but effects hundreds of miles inland aren't stressed enough. We need a revised scale that sets better expectations for what will happen after a hurricane moves inland.
Was it climate change? Yes, but that was only one of multiple factors. Yes, a warmer atmosphere holds more water, but Helene's unusual track and a fire hose of moisture rising up and over the Appalachians contributed to create an especially destructive flood.
We had 19 days of 80s at MSP in September. There were 22 days above 80 in July. We cool off Tuesday, but I see more 70s as we ease into autumn. No rain or cold fronts in sight — yet.
