Energy Secretary Wright Testifies: 125 Years of U.S. Data Show No Rise in Hurricane Frequency or Intensity
Energy Secretary Chris Wright told Congress on June 10, 2026, that 125 years of U.S. hurricane records show no rise in storm numbers or average intensity. He defended a report he led last year that concluded CO2-induced warming is less economically damaging than commonly believed.
ForbesU.S. hurricane data over 125 years shows no increase in the number of hurricanes and no increase in their average intensity. When asked about his earlier statements that inclement weather is not becoming more frequent or severe, Wright said, “That’s correct.
He added, “They just simply aren’t,” referring to hurricanes and floods becoming worse in the United States. Wright made the statements while responding to Rep. Christian Menefee, D-Texas, who represents much of inner-city Houston.
Menefee invited Wright to Houston to tell victims of Hurricane Harvey that floods and hurricanes are not getting worse. S. Population is expected to experience a one-in-100-year storm as often as three times in their lives, and noted that extreme precipitation in nearly two-thirds of the continental United States has exceeded the national standard.
