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Are Hurricanes Getting Worse?

NPR | By Rebecca Hersher,
Merrit Kennedy
Published September 12, 2018 at 11:11 AM CDT
A satellite image from Monday shows Hurricane Florence as it travels west and gains strength in the Atlantic Ocean. Hurricanes Isaac and Helene have also formed off the coast of West Africa.
NOAA/GOES
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A satellite image from Monday shows Hurricane Florence as it travels west and gains strength in the Atlantic Ocean. Hurricanes Isaac and Helene have also formed off the coast of West Africa.

Whenever a hurricane is on the way, the same questions tend to resurface. Are storms really becoming stronger and more frequent? And is climate change playing a role? NPR's Rebecca Hersher explains.

Copyright 2018 NPR
Science
Rebecca Hersher
Rebecca Hersher is a reporter on NPR's Climate Desk.
See stories by Rebecca Hersher
Merrit Kennedy
Merrit Kennedy is a reporter for NPR's News Desk. She covers a broad range of issues, from the latest developments out of the Middle East to science research news.
See stories by Merrit Kennedy