America’s good hurricane luck is about to run out
This story appeared in Today, Explained, a daily newsletter that helps you understand the most compelling news and stories of the day. The first hurricane of the fall season is expected to strike the Gulf Coast overnight, marking the latest onset of hurricane season in living memory. As of early Friday afternoon, Hurricane Isaias had grown […]
Hurricane Isaias, the first storm of the fall season, is set to make landfall along the Gulf Coast, posing a threat to millions of Americans. This marks the latest arrival in a century since 1905, a trend that could signal the end of a period of unusual good fortune when it comes to hurricanes in the US. Last year, no hurricanes reached the US mainland, and this year, Isaias breaks a record for arriving so late in the season.
This unusual delay is attributed to El Niño, a global wind pattern shift that disrupts traditional weather patterns and prevents hurricanes from forming as frequently as they would otherwise. However, El Niño is also expected to be historically bad, with severe weather expected to hit the southern US in December. The reduced capacity for disaster prediction and response due to funding cuts under the Trump administration could prove crucial in handling the impending storm.
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