The next "Storm of the Century" could be even more destructive, according to a groundbreaking new study that links climate pollution to stronger nor'easters - the fierce, moisture-laden storms that pound the U.S. East Coast with snow, rain, and flood surges.

These storms, which typically form from September to April, are powered by the clash between Arctic cold and warm Atlantic air. While warming Arctic temperatures are expected to reduce the number of nor'easters over time, the study warns that the intensity of these storms is increasing.

Researchers, led by Michael Mann of the University of Pennsylvania, analyzed 900 nor'easters from 1940 to 2025 using cyclone-tracking algorithms. They found that the maximum windspeed of the strongest storms rose by 6%, leading to a 20% increase in destructive potential.

This means that even with fewer storms, each individual event may pack a bigger punch. Alongside rising wind speeds, the study shows precipitation intensity - snow and rain - has increased by about 10%, driven by warmer ocean temperatures and higher evaporation rates.

Mann, whose curiosity about these storms began during the infamous "Snowmageddon" of 2010, warns that their impacts are underestimated in many coastal flood-risk models. Events like the 1962 "Ash Wednesday" storm already inflicted damages comparable to major hurricanes, and today's urban expansion only heightens the risk.

Coastal experts like Jennifer Francis urge communities to act now: "Proactive preparation is less costly than post-storm recovery," she noted, highlighting the need for improved resilience in the Northeast.

The study also challenges perceptions that global warming will simply reduce snow. As Judah Cohen from MIT emphasized, climate change may intensify winter extremes, delivering shorter but more severe snowstorms - a paradox that many coastal cities may not be ready for.