See the Ocean Heat Fueling Hurricane Milton, in One Chart
The waters of the Atlantic Ocean have been abnormally warm, providing copious amounts of energy that can intensify storms.
Helene very likely did this too, though scientists have been unable to retrieve some of the latest data on sea-surface temperatures because Helene knocked out a key federal facility, the National Centers for Environmental Information in Asheville, N.C.
Reminds me of that great Simpsons moment:
"Oh Lisa, there's no record of a hurricane ever hitting Springfield."
"Yes, but the records only go back to 1978 when the hall of records was mysteriously blown away!"
(Aired back in '96.)
Futurama had it right. Big ice cube in the ocean and be done with it.
