Climate change – transitions, tipping points and typhoons

Abstract

As I write Hurricane Florence is approaching the east coast of the US. Here is a storm out of the ordinary. It is most uncommon for such a powerful hurricane to reach so far north. The projected rainfall (up to 1.2 meters) is unprecedented. The tidal surge, which may be as high as 5.5 metres, has been experienced only twice since 1851. On no other occasion has a hurricane combined all these features.1