The article highlights preparations in Asheville, North Carolina, ahead of the hurricane season, focusing on the National Center for Environmental Information (NCEI). Located in Asheville, NCEI serves as the largest archive of weather and climate data, aiding emergency managers and researchers in preparing for storms. Carl Shrek, a senior research scholar, emphasizes the importance of past data in understanding tropical weather events and their inland impacts, as seen with Hurricane Helen.
Shrek points out that historical hurricanes often cause more inland flooding than expected, urging preparedness. He notes climate change is increasing heavy rainfall events, necessitating updated models for better future weather predictions. The article also warns of wildfire risks, particularly due to dead trees from past storms, and stresses that most hurricane fatalities are now due to inland flooding. The key advice is to prepare early for the hurricane season to mitigate risks effectively. Data can be accessed at ncei.noaa.gov.
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