Hurricane Helene Highlights Growing Threat to Florida’s ‘Big Bend’

The damage caused by last week’s powerful Hurricane Helene in Florida’s ‘Big Bend’ region highlights a growing threat for the area, reports Julia Jacobo for ABC 7.

“The underwater geology of the Gulf of Mexico leaves much of the low-lying coast unguarded against a massive influx of seawater. The continental shelf of the Florida Gulf Coast extends quite far offshore - up to 150 miles in some spots, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - leaving the shallow waters nowhere to go.” The storm surge from Hurricane Helene is projected to be as high as 20 feet in some parts of the region.

The Big Bend is in increasing danger due to currents from the Gulf of Mexico, a loss of seagrass, and rising sea levels. The U.S. coastline could experience an average rise in sea level of about 11 inches between 2020 and 2025, according to a federal report. “While many factors contribute to the magnitude and impacts of storm surge and coastal flooding, average sea levels for many Gulf Coast communities are more than six inches higher today than they were just a few decades ago, data shows.”

Meanwhile, warmer ocean surface temperatures are fueling stronger hurricanes. “Warmer than normal oceans hold a lot of extra energy that these storms can feed on, and about 80% of major hurricanes, between Categories 3 and 5, undergo rapid intensification, defined as an increase in the maximum sustained winds of a tropical cyclone of about 35 mph or more in a 24-hour period.”