Tropical cyclones, massive rotating storm systems driven by warm ocean waters have always been among nature’s most destructive forces. But in recent years, both scientists and disaster management agencies have noticed a change.

While the total number of cyclones has not increased dramatically worldwide, their intensity, rainfall, and speed of intensification have risen sharply. This means that when storms form, they are more powerful, more destructive, and harder to predict.

Global Picture: Storms Are Packing More Power

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the number of hurricanes and tropical cyclones making landfall each year has not shown a consistent increase since the late 19th century. However, the average energy and destructive potential of these

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