Storms in a Changing Climate
May 9, 2025
Robin Oliverio, Ph.D.
Hollywood loves a good natural disaster movie – but lately, real life is writing the script. Intense storms, record-breaking winds, and unexpected weather events are becoming more common and they’re hitting closer to home than ever before.
On April 29, 2025, powerful winds ripped through Western Pennsylvania, tearing off roofs, knocking down trees and power lines, and even leading to three deaths 
.
More than 400,000 people in the Pittsburgh area lost power after winds reached up to 95 mph. In response, Allegheny County declared a state of emergency.
But this wasn’t just a one-off event. Are storms like this happening more often? What causes such extreme wind? And what can we do to stay safe and protect our environment?
Wind: An Overview
To understand how climate change impacts wind, we first need to know how wind forms in the first place.
It all starts with temperature. When the air heats up, it expands and rises. If you’ve ever avoided a hot attic or noticed your dog lying low on a hot day, you’ve seen this in action. On the flip side, cold air causes the air to condense, meaning more molecules get packed into a space. So cooler air sinks because it becomes denser and therefore heavier.
The temperature of the air affects its pressure. As warm air expands and rises, it creates an area of low pressure. Colder temperatures result in areas of high pressure. And we know from physics that air moves from high pressure to low pressure; this movement of air is what you perceive as wind.
Here’s an example: Picture yourself at the beach. The sand gets hot quickly, but the ocean stays cool. As the warm air above the sand rises, the cooler air over the ocean rushes in to take its place causing a nice, gentle ocean breeze.
How Does Climate Change Factor in?
As global temperatures rise, more extreme weather occurs, including stronger and more frequent winds and rain. Warmer weather causes more water to evaporate, which adds moisture to the air. As that warm, moist air rises and meets air higher up, it condenses into clouds – and eventually creates rain.
Temperatures have increased by 1.1°C (1.98°F) since pre-industrial levels (1850-1900) and are expected to hit 1.5°C (2.7°F) by 2040. The warmer the air, the more moisture it can hold, increasing the rate and intensity of rainfall. Scientists have also recently demonstrated that for every 1°C (or 1.8°F) increase in temperature, there is a 2% acceleration in jet stream winds, and we know that jet stream winds have an impact on surface winds.
Pittsburgh’s storm on April 29 included the formation of a downburst , caused by warm air that rises quickly during a storm, pulling moisture up with it. If the updraft is strong enough, rain can hang out high in the clouds . When it eventually falls, it drags cool air down with it, creating a strong downdraft. That rush of air slams into the ground and spreads out, causing damaging winds.
Downbursts can be especially intense when the surrounding air is dry. That’s because rain cools the dry air even more, making it heavier and speeding up the downdraft.
Faster-moving air means stronger winds and the increased likelihood of damage from downed trees, power lines, and buildings.
What Can We Do?
Climate change might feel like a huge, far-off problem, but it’s already affecting our daily lives in real ways. While major changes in industry and energy production are needed to reduce carbon emissions, there are meaningful steps each of us can take to protect ourselves, support our communities, and reduce our environmental impact:
- Be weather-ready: Stay informed by signing up for local weather alerts and having a plan in place for power outages and emergencies. Keep a basic emergency kit at home with essentials like flashlights, batteries, water, and non-perishable food.
- Support and strengthen community resources: Check in on neighbors after extreme weather – especially older adults and people with disabilities. Volunteer with local shelters or relief organizations to help others recover from storms.
- Speak up: Talk to friends, family, and local leaders about why climate action matters. Support policies and initiatives that promote clean energy, better infrastructure, and disaster preparedness.
Small actions add up – especially when more of us are taking them. By preparing for extreme weather and making environmentally conscious choices, each of us can be part of the solution.
About Robin Oliverio, Ph.D.
Robin holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience and is passionate about bridging the gap between science and policy. She focuses on using research to inform evidence-based policies that drive positive societal change. She is strongly committed to projects that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, and she thrives in roles where science meets advocacy, communication, and impact.
If you have any questions or would like a particular topic to be featured, please reach out to Dr. Robin Oliverio, science communications & media specialist, at OliverioR@CarnegieScienceCenter.org