Last week, we reported that Hurricane Matthew brought record-level rainstorms to some parts of North Carolina — storms so severe they’re estimated to happen only once every 1,000 years. Today, new analysis from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed this assessment. Cities like Lake View, Ridgeland, and Smithfield experienced the state’s most extreme rainfall, while the surrounding areas and cities were hit with once-in-500-years rainfall or less.
A map of North Carolina’s rainfall levels post-Hurricane Matthew. (Photo: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
Scientists say the extreme rainfall and flooding caused by Hurricane Matthew are directly linked to climate change. As warming increases across the globe, these extreme weather events could become more frequent.
