Over the past thirty years the number of hurricanes and other tropical storms have been decreasing globally, but the intensity of storms and the damage they cause is increasing, according to a new study titled Trends in Global Tropical Cyclone Activity: 1990–2021. The climate researchers attribute this trend to a shift toward a more La Niña-like basic state in the overall tropical climate. La Niña is a natural cycle climate pattern characterized by cooler-than-average ocean water temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean. It is one of the main drivers of global weather patterns.  "While La Niña increases Atlantic hurricane activity, it tends to decrease Pacific activity," said study co-lead author Phil Klotzbach of Colorado State University. "Since the Pacific generates much more activity than the Atlantic climatologically, La Niña tends to reduce global storm activity."

While there may be fewer tropical storms globally, the damage they inflict is increasing. The authors attribute these rising costs to population growth and increased property development along coastal areas. They also found that the largest increase in global damage was in the Atlantic region. Additionally, the researchers determined the number of strong hurricanes is increasing.  Specifically, the study found an increasing trend in the percentage of hurricanes reaching Category 4-5 intensity. The increasing intensity of hurricanes, according to the study, is likely due to warmer sea-surface temperatures and other climate change related warming. "This change toward potentially fewer storms but more strong storms is in line with what climate models project with continued climate change," Klotzbach said. Read more at USA Today or access the original study here.