Waterlogged soils can give hurricanes new life after they arrive on land

Understanding the effect could help forecasters determine whether a hurricane may strengthen after landfall

A photograph of a flooded street in Conway, South Carolina.

Hurricane Florence roared across the Carolinas in September 2018, gaining new intensity as it swept over already waterlogged soils. The resulting rainfall broke records, and floodwaters continued to inundate towns such as Conway, S.C., (shown) two weeks after the storm had passed.

Sean Rayford/Getty Images News

Once a hurricane makes landfall, it’s usually the beginning of the end for the storm.