Is extreme weather our most urgent challenge? Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated from Florida, where Hurricane Milton is due to make landfall today.
Forecaster's tears over monster storm
Is extreme weather our most urgent challenge? Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated from Florida, where Hurricane Milton is due to make landfall today.
"It's just an incredible, incredible, incredible hurricane," warned the veteran weather forecaster. "It has dropped 50 millibarsUnit of measurement for atmospheric pressure. in 10 hours." John Morales paused, his voice choked with emotion. "I apologise: this is just... horrific. The wind is at 160 miles per hour, and it is just... gaining strength in the Gulf of Mexico, where the seas are just so incredibly, incredibly hot...
"You know what's driving that," he added. "I don't need to tell you - global warmingThe Earth is getting hotter due to climate change., climate change, leading to this and becoming an increasing threat."
What particularly alarmed him and other experts was the speed with which Hurricane Milton gained strength. On Sunday morning it was at 60 mph; 36 hours later it had increased to 180 mph1 and experts are today saying it could be one of the most destructive storms on record, even though the forecast is that it will have dropped to a Category 4 storm when it reaches land late tonight.
Hurricanes are graded from 1 to 5 on what is called the Saffir-Simpson scale. Category 3 upwards means there is a serious threat to life. Category 5 means a speed of at least 157 mph and danger to even the strongest buildings.
At one point it looked as if a Category 6 might have to be invented for Milton. This morning, it is a Category 5 storm. While it is expected to weaken before hitting land, it will grow twice as large, spreading its damaging effects over a much wider area.
The city of Tampa is right in the hurricane's path. Residents in several districts have been compulsorily evacuated. "I can say this without any dramatisation whatsoever," declared the city's mayor, Jane Castor: "if you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you are going to die."2
The country's divisive politics are not helping the situation. Florida's governorIn the USA, governors are elected leaders of the 50 states. Ron DeSantis, an allyA country that has agreed to support another one. of Donald Trump who shares his opposition to climate action, has refused to take calls from vice-president Kamala Harris.3
Trump, meanwhile, has falsely accused Joe Biden of doing nothing to aid victims of Hurricane Helene, which struck two weeks ago. In fact Biden has approved over £100m in aid.4
America's National Weather Service (NWS) is among the targets listed in Project 2025, a detailed plan put together by Trump's supporters for what he should do if he is re-elected. It recommends doing away with public weather forecasts and relying on private companies instead.
It also recommends dismantling the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees the NWS and leads climate-change research.
Is extreme weather our most urgent challenge?
Yes: In recent years we have seen devastation across the world caused by hurricanes, flooding, drought and wildfires. Unless we take concerted action now such events are only going to get worse.
No: With weather we can at least take evasive action, like the evacuees from Florida. We face greater threats from war, rogue AIA computer programme that has been designed to think. and viruses, which could hit us anywhere at any time.
Or... Our most immediate challenge is to stop autocratsA leader who is not bound by constitutional norms or checked by other sources of political authority, like a parliament or the judicial system., who can single-handedly derail attempts to combat climate change and bring peace to the world.
Millibars - Unit of measurement for atmospheric pressure.
Global warming - The Earth is getting hotter due to climate change.
Governor - In the USA, governors are elected leaders of the 50 states.
Ally - A country that has agreed to support another one.
AI - A computer programme that has been designed to think.
Autocrats - A leader who is not bound by constitutional norms or checked by other sources of political authority, like a parliament or the judicial system.
Forecaster’s tears over monster storm

Glossary
Millibars - Unit of measurement for atmospheric pressure.
Global warming - The Earth is getting hotter due to climate change.
Governor - In the USA, governors are elected leaders of the 50 states.
Ally - A country that has agreed to support another one.
AI - A computer programme that has been designed to think.
Autocrats - A leader who is not bound by constitutional norms or checked by other sources of political authority, like a parliament or the judicial system.