Earth’s warming climate has really heated up Atlantic hurricanes in recent years. Two recent studies, in fact, found that hurricane wind speeds were boosted by an average of 18 miles per hour. That was enough to kick most of the hurricanes to a higher category—including some that were juiced up to category five, the most powerful of all.

As the atmosphere heats up, it warms the oceans. And heat is what powers hurricanes. So warmer oceans make hurricanes more intense.

Scientists studied the impact of warmer oceans on the intensity of hurricanes in the North Atlantic Ocean from 2019 through ’23. In a separate study, they looked at the 2024 season.

The researchers used records of sea-surface temperatures, models of Earth’s climate, and statistical analyses. They used those details to simulate what hurricanes might have been like without human-caused global warming. And they compared those results to the actual hurricanes.

The results were astounding. The winds of 80 percent of hurricanes from 2019 through ’23 were boosted by roughly one category. And all 11 hurricanes in 2024 were kicked up, by anywhere from nine to 28 miles per hour. That includes boosts to the top level for both category five hurricanes.

Heavier winds cause more damage. They blow more stuff over, and they create a bigger storm surge. So as long as the oceans keep getting hotter, hurricanes might keep getting stronger.