Forty trillion gallons of rain inundate the Southeast after multiple storms

More than 40 trillion gallons of rain hit the southeastern U.S. over the past week, primarily from Hurricane Helene, overwhelming communities with unprecedented flooding.

Seth Borenstein reports for The Associated Press.

In short:

• A combination of Hurricane Helene and other storms dumped record rainfall across the Southeast, killing more than 100 people.
• The rain, measured at 40 trillion gallons, was enough to fill Lake Tahoe and overwhelmed regions like North Carolina and Tennessee.
• Experts link the increased rainfall to climate change, with warmer air holding more moisture, leading to more severe storms.

Key quote:

“We’re seeing events year in and year out where we are measuring rainfall in feet.”

— Ed Clark, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Water Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Why this matters:

As climate change intensifies storms, the Southeast faces increasing risks of catastrophic rainfall and flooding. This could lead to more destruction, loss of life and challenges in rebuilding.