WASHINGTON - Big, destructive hurricanes are hitting the U.S. three times more frequently than they did a century ago, according to a new study. Experts generally measure a hurricane’s destruction by adding up how much damage it did to people and cities. Two storms stood out from the rest: 2017’s Hurricane Harvey, with an area of total destruction of 4,570 square miles (11,835 square kilometres), and 2005’s Katrina, at 2,942 square miles (7,621 square kilometres). The average was 159 square miles (411 square kilometres) — which means Harvey’s destructive footprint was 30 times larger than average. Colorado State University hurricane scientist Phil Klotzbach says his review of the most powerful storms to hit the U.S., using barometric pressure, shows no increase.

Source: thestar November 11, 2019 20:08 UTC