PART ONE – THE EFFECTS OF INCREASING STORMWATER
Major stormwater events in the U.S. are occurring more often because of a changing climate, which is fueling heavier rainfall and more intense storms. At the same time, aging infrastructure and ongoing urban development are making flooding impacts worse in many regions.
Southwest Florida has seen increasingly extreme rainfall in recent years, with several communities recording peak-hour, peak-day, and multi-day rainfall totals that have shattered long-term records. These downpours have caused widespread flooding, strained infrastructure, and disrupted daily life—clear signs of our region’s growing vulnerability to intense precipitation. Storms once considered “100-year events” are happening more frequently, pointing to a fundamental shift in rainfall patterns consistent with trends across the southeastern United States. Warmer-than-normal Gulf waters have also contributed to a higher-than-average number of hurricanes, further intensifying the threat.
One of the main drivers of these changes is a warming atmosphere, which can hold about 7% more water vapor for every 1°F increase in temperature. This added moisture translates into heavier rainfall when storms form. Both climate models and real-world observations confirm that Florida is becoming wetter, particularly during summer months. Increasingly, peak rainfall events are delivering large amounts of rain in very short periods—much faster than some stormwater systems that were designed for 6- or 24-hour rainfall durations can handle. These extreme bursts of rain highlight the urgent need for updated infrastructure planning and community resilience measures to help protect homes, roads, and neighborhoods from flooding in a changing climate.
Look for Part Two in the November edition of Verandah View entitled: Verandah’s Stormwater Management Efforts
