Not only do storms intensify with temperature, but they also become more concentrated over a smaller area. This is because as the storm cells intensify, they also become more effective at drawing in moisture toward the storm centre.

This new research has been published in Geophysical Research Letters and was featured in Nature as a research highlight.

Associate Professor Seth Westra has explained the research and it’s importance in planning policy at the Intelligent Water Decisions blog.

Warmer temperatures can mean more intense rainfall at the storm core, and less rainfall further away from the storm centre.