Helene makes landfall in northwestern Florida as a Category 4 hurricane
apSEP 2024
Dozens Dead Across Southeast After Hurricane Helene's Landfall in Florida
Above: A road is empty of traffic as Hurricane Helene churns offshore on September 26, 2024, in St. Pete Beach, Florida. Image copyright: Joe Raedle/Staff/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Climate change has made weather events from rains and storms to droughts and wildfires more extreme and common, and the deadly Hurricane Helene must serve as an alert. Leaders must take action soon to mitigate such disasters and combat climate change before these extreme events go beyond society's ability to effectively prepare for them.
Narrative B
It's easy to blame any strong hurricane on climate change, but in reality, they're usually influenced by a myriad of factors that have nothing to do with global warming. More research is needed before we can establish any direct causal link between the two.