Hurricane Helene’s devastation across the southeastern United States is the latest in a troubling pattern of climate-driven extreme weather events.

With scientists increasingly linking hurricanes to rising global temperatures, the storm’s path of destruction has highlighted the powerful influence of climate change on hurricane intensity, rainfall, and inland flooding.

Warmer Oceans Fuel Stronger Hurricanes

One of the clearest connections between climate change and hurricanes is how warming oceans fuel more intense storms. As global temperatures rise, the oceans absorb much of this excess heat. This stored energy acts as a powerful fuel source for hurricanes, helping them gain strength more quickly. Before Hurricane Helene hit Florida’s Big Bend, ocean waters in the Gulf of Mexico were unusually warm, contributing to the storm’s rapid intensification into a Category 4 hurricane, according to NBC News. Helene’s winds reached speeds of 155 mph, leaving a trail of destruction from Florida to the Carolinas.

“Hurricanes like Helene are drawing more energy from the warming oceans, and the results are catastrophic,” climate scientist Peter Kalmus told Democracy Now.

The rapid intensification that fueled Helene’s fury is becoming more common as the climate crisis deepens.

More Rain, More Flooding

Climate change doesn’t just make hurricanes stronger—it also makes them wetter. Warmer air holds more moisture, which leads to heavier rainfall during storms. For every one degree Fahrenheit increase in temperature, the atmosphere can hold about 4% more water, Scientific American reports. In Helene’s case, parts of North Carolina saw over two feet of rain, far surpassing normal expectations.

In western North Carolina, which was hit hardest, the combination of mountainous terrain and relentless rain caused unprecedented flooding. This region, hundreds of miles from the coast, became an unexpected epicenter of devastation.

Meteorologist Doug Outlaw explained that as the storm moved into the Appalachians, “the clouds had to rise over the mountains,” forcing them to release their moisture, making the rainfall even more intense, he told NBC News. Towns like Asheville and Chimney Rock were overwhelmed as rivers swelled and mudslides swept away homes, creating scenes reminiscent of a disaster film.

The Increasing Likelihood of Inland Catastrophe

For many, the devastation in North Carolina’s inland communities came as a shock. These areas had long been considered climate “havens,” relatively insulated from coastal threats like hurricanes and sea level rise. But the catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Helene upended this perception. Scientists now warn that no place is safe from the far-reaching impacts of climate change.

The sheer scale of the damage has left many communities unrecognizable. Asheville, once a haven for those seeking refuge from climate threats, became a catch basin for floodwaters funneled through the mountains. Over 100 people lost their lives across the region, and hundreds remain missing, The New York Post reports.

Scientists have been sounding the alarm for years about the increasing risks of inland flooding, particularly in mountainous areas. According to an analysis by Climate Central, the remnants of Hurricane Helene brought about 50% more rainfall to parts of Georgia and the Carolinas than would have been expected without climate change. These areas are now facing the brunt of a warming world, where inland communities are just as vulnerable to hurricanes as their coastal counterparts.

A Costly Recovery Ahead

In the days following the storm, the scale of the recovery effort became apparent. In North Carolina alone, hundreds of homes were destroyed, and tens of thousands of residents remain without power. Roads and bridges were washed away, and entire towns have been left stranded, only reachable by helicopter, CNN reports.

The economic toll is staggering. Early estimates suggest that the recovery effort could cost billions of dollars. Asheville’s water system was particularly hard-hit, with key infrastructure destroyed by floodwaters. Rebuilding these systems will take months, if not years, and many residents are still without access to clean drinking water, according to The Citizen Times.

As FEMA and local authorities continue their search and rescue efforts, the full scale of the damage is still unfolding. For many in the region, it will be a long road to recovery.

Hurricane Helene’s Climate Lessons

Hurricane Helene is a stark reminder that climate change isn’t just a future threat—it’s here now. The intensifying storms, heavier rainfall, and far-reaching impacts are reshaping the landscape of disaster preparedness. For towns like Asheville, which once believed themselves to be safe, the storm has been a wake-up call.

As the planet continues to warm, scientists warn that storms like Helene will become more common. With each degree of warming, the risks multiply. If there’s one lesson to be drawn from this hurricane, it’s that no place is immune to the effects of climate change.

As we rebuild and recover, the question remains: How many more hurricanes like Helene will it take before we act? 

Click below to take action now!