Pop-Up Hurricanes

I blogged on this recently, about how hurricanes are developing very fast due to warming air and ocean temperatures. Now we just had the “poster child” for such an event with Hurricane Otis that hit Acapulco, Mexico.

It was a tropical storm — until it wasn’t. People went to bed thinking there was a tropical storm bearing down on them and then woke up to the windows, walls and ceilings blowing out due to a Category 5 hurricane.

The reasons for this are explained in this excellent podcast, a short 23 minutes: “A New Threat: Surprise Hurricanes.”

Here’s the podcast description: “Hurricane Otis, which killed more than two dozen people in southern Mexico this week, exemplified a phenomenon that meteorologists fear will become more and more common: a severe hurricane that arrives with little warning or time to prepare.

“Judson Jones, who covers natural disasters for The Times, explains why Hurricane Otis packed such an unexpected punch.

“Guest: Judson Jones, who covers natural disasters and Earth’s changing climate for The New York Times.”

The other interesting aspect of the above is the New York Times adding a meteorologist to their staff. They see the trend in natural disasters and wanted more direct expertise added to their staff of writers.