Recent data indicates that Helene, a tropical system, brought one of the highest amounts of rainfall ever recorded in South Carolina. This occurred shortly after another tropical system, Debby, also made a significant impact in the state. Both Helene and Debby now rank among the top three wettest tropical systems in South Carolina's history, with only Hurricane Florence in 2018 surpassing them in terms of rainfall.
It is noteworthy that six out of the ten wettest tropical systems in the state have occurred within the past decade. This trend suggests that tropical systems are becoming wetter over time, a phenomenon attributed to the warming of the planet due to fossil fuel pollution.
Climate analyses of Helene have revealed that the hurricane's rainfall was exacerbated by climate change, intensifying what would have already been a severe situation. One study indicated that storms like Helene are now 20% wetter due to climate change, while another study suggested a 50% increase in rainfall intensity.
Climate scientist Daniel Swain emphasized that even the lower estimate of a 20% increase represents a significant change. He explained that events like Helene would be even more extreme in a future with higher global temperatures. Swain warned that similar weather events in the coming decades could be notably more intense than they are today.
