Category 5 Denial: Trump Slashes Forecasting Budgets as Scientists Warn of a Brutal Hurricane Season Ahead

As hurricanes grow stronger, the U.S. grows blinder

As hurricanes grow stronger, the U.S. grows blinder — seen from space (created by author)

Every year, from June through November, the North Atlantic hurricane season unfolds — some years passing quietly, others carving deep scars into history. And 2024 proved to be a standout.

It began with Beryl, the earliest Category 5 storm ever recorded. A freak of nature — and a terrifying omen of what was to come. Still, many shrugged when, out of nowhere (well, out of the Saharan dust), a haunting silence enveloped the Atlantic in what was predicted to be an exceptionally intense hurricane season. But the silence wasn’t peace. It was the kind of calm that makes scientists nervous. Because they knew the dice were still loaded. The Atlantic had never been hotter, and the air was thick with inevitability.

And so, Hurricane Helene hit with indomitable force. 249 dead. $79 billion in damage. And among the many things that made it so impactful was that she tore through places long considered “safe” from climate assaults — inland towns, northern cities, neighborhoods sold as climate refuges. The lie didn’t last. You probably saw the footage: flooded houses in Tennessee, total destruction in Ashville. The “climate haven” illusion…