Alex Hall for TIME— Why Beryl’s ‘Unprecedented’ Timing is a Signal of Climate Change’s Impact on Extreme Weather

UCLA climate scientist Alex Hall discusses Hurricane Beryl for TIME, sharing how climate change is increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events. He explains that while extreme weather existed before climate change, its frequency and intensity have increased due to the warming climate. “The climate is variable, the weather is variable; we expect there to be extremes. But it’s just that the likelihood of extremes has changed, and the likelihood of these types of events occurring is greater.”

Hall highlights Beryl’s early occurrence in the hurricane season as a sign of climate change’s impact, emphasizing the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate future climate extremes. “The fact that we’re seeing this event, that is unprecedented, occurring is entirely consistent with climate change.”