The reasons for the recent significant flooding in North Carolina can be attributed to many factors such as but not limited to the following potential causes:
- Terrain
- Extensive heavy rainfall
- Dam failures
- Hurricanes
- Climate change
According to a report from PBS (Public Broadcasting Service), “The blame for recurring floods of a lifetime can be placed on rising temperatures because of climate change, said Tim Armstrong, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wilmington.
‘The warmer the air, the more moisture it can hold,’ Armstrong said Tuesday.
As the three massive floods from unnamed storms show, it doesn’t take a powerful hurricane, just the right combination of atmospheric factors to end up with big floods over small areas,”.
Unfortunately, The Outer Banks (OBX), North Carolina islands are very low-lying – just a few feet above sea level, which makes them susceptible to rising sea levels and coastal erosion. I can remember one summer when my two sons and I were visiting our family in OBX, how much the water rose over the roads when it was merely raining. I was driving my aunt’s Chevy Suburban, and we were hydroplaning all over the road!
In all my years of driving in our home state of Michigan, unless I purposely drove into a large puddle, I had never experienced that type of hydroplaning. It was scarier than driving on ice and snow in the Michigan winters! Thankfully, we managed to avoid the plethora of accidents on the roads that day.
However, the recent record-setting flooding that occurred was not isolated to only coastal towns; in fact, it hit the western portions of North Carolina as well, bringing inches of rain to an already saturated area, causing rivers to burst from their banks, flooding communities and in some cases sweeping them downriver to become hazardous debris.
North Carolina’s Asheville Citizen-Times reported that, “In the mountains, that rainfall quickly funnels into streams and rivers. Asheville, North Carolina, a fast-growing city of about 95,000 residents, is located in a bowl in mountainous terrain. That left it and other nearby cities highly susceptible to high river runoff and extreme flooding. To make matters worse, the area was already saturated from a storm just ahead of Helene.
Rainfall from Helene was already predicted to cause flooding in places no matter what, but in Western North Carolina a weather front stalled at the Appalachians ahead of Tropical Storm Helene which exacerbated the flooding, David Easterling, a rain expert with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information in Asheville, said to USA TODAY,”.
Recent US natural disasters
Since my time here on planet Earth, I have not known so many natural disasters as we have experienced in the last twenty years or so. Specifically in the United States (US), the amount of floods and wildfires seems to be piling up by the minute. Some claim that it is the Earth’s cycle, and some science documents evidence-based theories of global warming/climate change. Personally, I believe what the top and most intelligent scientists report based on their fact-finding research, documentation and experiments.
The National Centers for Environmental Information cited the following US natural disasters, “From 1980–2024, there were 403 confirmed weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each to affect United States. These events included 32 drought events, 45 flooding events, 9 freeze events, 203 severe storm events, 67 tropical cyclone events, 23 wildfire events, and 24 winter storm events. Overall, these events resulted in the deaths of 16,918 people and had significant economic effects on the areas impacted. The 1980–2024 annual average is 9.0 events (CPI-adjusted); the annual average for the most recent 5 years (2020–2024) is 23.0 events (CPI-adjusted),”.
What do global scientists say about natural disasters?
Scientists across the world agree that global warming is a significant and imminent threat. The frightening statistics noted above for the US alone should be enough to alarm those in power to fund climate change initiatives; not claim it’s fake news or to continue drilling for fossil fuels to save a few bucks. When we look at the global consequences and amounts of natural disasters, it’s even worse.
In fact, according to NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), they found that, “Record-breaking heat waves on land and in the ocean, drenching rains, severe floods, years-long droughts, extreme wildfires, and widespread flooding during hurricanes are all becoming more frequent and more intense.
Human actions since the Industrial Revolution, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, have caused greenhouse gases to rapidly rise in the atmosphere. As carbon dioxide, methane, and other gases increase, they act as a blanket, trapping heat and warming the planet. In response, Earth’s air and ocean temperatures warm. This warming affects the water cycle, shifts weather patterns, and melts land ice — all impacts that can make extreme weather worse.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s Sixth Assessment Report released in 2021, the human-caused rise in greenhouse gases has increased the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. NASA’s satellite missions, including the upcoming Earth System Observatory, provide vital data for monitoring and responding to extreme weather events.
Research says all the risks from these extreme weather events will escalate the more the planet warms. However, IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report also describes some climate change mitigation strategies, technological developments, and methods for reducing greenhouse gas emissions,”.
NASA is considered an expert on global change because scientists use a combination of climate models along with land, air, sea, and space-based observations to support their fact-based research.
I believe one of my favorite quotes applies perfectly to not only my personal life but to address climate change responsibilities as well. “When we avoid difficult conversations (or responsibilities), we trade short-term discomfort for long-term dysfunction.” ~Peter Bromberg
Why did it flood in North Carolina?
In conclusion, the flooding in North Carolina serves as a stark reminder of the complex interplay between terrain, weather patterns, and climate change. From the mountains to the coast, each area has its vulnerabilities exacerbated by rising global temperatures.
As evidenced by both historical data and expert analyses, it’s clear that these extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense.
Ultimately, addressing the root causes of climate change and implementing effective strategies can help mitigate future impacts and build more resilient communities.