Hurricane Milton has gained significant power, with climatologists attributing this intensification to global warming. A recent analysis by the World Weather Attribution group reveals that wind speeds in the region have increased by approximately 10%, while precipitation levels have risen by 20 to 30%.
This phenomenon is largely linked to record-high sea temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico. Previous studies have indicated that climate change has increased the likelihood of such temperatures in the Persian Gulf by 400 to 800 times.
Researchers noted that human-induced global warming has made hurricanes like Milton twice as powerful. "Climate change is causing storms, and fossil fuel combustion is to blame," stated Ian Duff, an activist with the environmental organization Greenpeace.
Furthermore, researchers have identified a trend of rapidly increasing hurricane activity in the Atlantic over the past 50 years, which they also attribute to climate change.
Hurricane Milton, expected to linger near the U.S. coast until November, has already left 3 million Floridians without power. Tornadoes spawned by the hurricane have claimed at least 17 lives.
Analysts predict that the hurricane could cost insurance companies up to $100 billion, with damages in Florida alone estimated at around $50 billion, marking Milton as the third major storm to impact the state in the last three months.