A month ago HN was discussing the lull in major storms so far during the 2024 hurricane season. As I wrote at the time, also noting that climates and storm con

A month ago HN was discussing the lull in major storms so far during the 2024 hurricane season. As I wrote at the time, also noting that climates and storm conditions are complex systems with numerous factors: Rapidly-developing storms with access to a great deal of thermal energy and tropical moisture increase the likelihood of major storms developing rapidly with little warning and severe impacts. That's no joke to deal with. <https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41367512 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41367512> Helene largely matched that description, and has been[1] a major storm, landing as a category 4 (220 km/h / 140 mph winds) having intensified from tropical storm status only 28 hours before, with an immense storm area, engulfing multiple US states, dumping prodigious amounts of rain, and responsible so far for 70+ deaths and $22 billion in damages, with tallies likely to increase. The main saving grace has been that it was fast-moving at landfall minimising the worst of wind and rain damage. Its path slowed dramatically afterwards, and some of the worst damage has been reported well inland, in Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, from heavy flooding. Wikipedia has a continuously updated page on the effects of Helene as well: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Helene https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Helene> As I write this, Nullschool's Earth Weather Visualiser is showing two large storms likely to develop in the Gulf by 4 October, with another major hurricane well off in the Atlantic: <https://earth.nullschool.net/#2024/10/04/1200Z/wind/surface/level/overlay=mean_sea_level_pressure/orthographic=-79.13,25.00,1499/loc=-95.927,26.020 https://earth.nullschool.net/#2024/10/04/1200Z/wind/surface/...> The most westerly of the storms eye is indicated at the time of this post, that location may shift for those viewing the forecast later. The easterly storm may well hit Florida again. Those who complained about the "alarmist" climate scientists and jouralists who "cried wolf" might take some heed. <https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41366911 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41366911> ________________________________ Notes: 1. I'm avoiding use of the past tense as though Helene has officially dissipated, it appears that the relic low will re-form out over the subtropical Atlantic to become a storm off the Eastern seaboard near the Chesapeake Bay, before finally dissipating for good: <https://earth.nullschool.net/#2024/10/03/0400Z/wind/surface/level/overlay=mean_sea_level_pressure/orthographic=-70.93,35.51,2487/loc=-68.589,36.499 https://earth.nullschool.net/#2024/10/03/0400Z/wind/surface/...>. Such "zombie storms" are being noted increasingly, with Hurricane John being another example: <https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/back-hurricane-strength-john-soaks-mexicos-pacific-coast-2024-09-26/ https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/back-hurricane-streng...>.