Opinion| How PVAMU scientists are working to protect Texas from extreme weather

In the quiet before the next hurricane, scientists at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) are hard at work not boarding up windows or stacking sandbags but running models, studying satellite imagery, and building early warning systems that could one day save countless lives.

Weather is no longer what it used to be. Across Texas, hurricanes strike earlier and harder, droughts linger longer, and rainfall sometimes arrives all at once. The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season was a stark reminder of that new reality.

Initially quiet, the season roared to life in late September, becoming one of the most active on record. When it ended on November 30, the final tally included 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and five major hurricanes. Five of those hurricanes made landfall in the continental United States, two with devastating force.

Among them was Hurricane Beryl, the earliest Category-5 hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic. Though it weakened before landfall in Texas, it brought powerful storm surges and flash flooding to the Gulf Coast. Later in the season, Hurricane Helene, a massive Category-4 storm, swept through Florida and into the Southeast, leaving behind over 150 fatalities, the highest U.S. hurricane death toll since Katrina. Hurricane Milton, not to be outdone, spun up an outbreak of 46 tornadoes across Florida while dumping torrential rain and storm surges across low-lying areas.

What made the 2024 season different wasn’t just the number of storms but how quickly they intensified and how unpredictable their paths became. At PVAMU, those challenges are now at the heart of our research.

We aren’t just tracking storms. At PVAMU, we’re working on understanding how extreme events impact Texas and the Greater Houston area, especially under different land use and land cover management practices. Our research examines how urban expansion, infrastructure development, and agricultural changes influence flooding, water movement, and storm behavior during hurricanes and heavy rainfall. By analyzing historical trends and modeling future scenarios, PVAMU scientists aim to identify strategies that reduce risk, enhance resilience, and support informed planning for growing communities across the state. Our goal is simple: make Texas safer at the coast and inland, where many people mistakenly believe they’re out of harm’s way.

That mission will be tested again in 2025. The new hurricane season has just begun, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is warning of another above-normal year. Their outlook predicts:

• 13 to 19 named storms
• 6 to 10 hurricanes
• 3 to 5 major hurricanes

The atmosphere is primed for powerful storms with a 60% chance of above-normal activity, driven by unusually warm ocean waters, low wind shear, and an active West African monsoon. What worries scientists most is not just the volume but the intensity. As seen in 2024, storms now often intensify with little warning, giving communities less time to react.

To help meet that challenge, NOAA is deploying new forecasting tools: advanced hurricane tracking models, warnings issued up to 72 hours before landfall, and real-time rainfall prediction portals. They’re also expanding Spanish-language alerts and improving storm graphics to show coastal and inland flood risks as a growing threat.

At PVAMU, we are trying to bridge the gap between high-tech forecasting and real-world preparedness. As the editor of Climate Change and Extreme Events, an interdisciplinary volume published by Elsevier, I’ve worked with experts across fields to explore the science behind extreme weather. One of its chapters focuses on the performance of an early warning system in the Greater Houston Area, which remains among the most effective ways to reduce loss of life and property.

But science alone isn’t enough.

Preparedness starts at the ground level with farmers, ranchers, and families. PVAMU’s efforts include outreach and education, especially in underserved rural communities often left behind when disasters strike.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) also encourages producers to take the 2025 season seriously. Their guidance includes practical steps:

• Create an emergency plan with evacuation routes
• Remove debris and secure equipment to prevent damage from high winds
• Document inventory and farm assets before a storm hits
• Review insurance coverage, including for flood risks
• Stock up on emergency supplies, water, and backup power
• Use tools like the FEMA app for real-time alerts

For those impacted by storms, USDA offers a variety of programs through agencies like FSA, NRCS, and RMA, including disaster assistance, low-interest loans, and emergency insurance payouts like the Hurricane Insurance Protection – Wind Index program.

Back at PVAMU, we are also preparing the next generation of climate leaders. In Fall 2026, we will launch a new Ph.D. program in Food-Energy-Water Security and Sustainability (FEWSS), a transdisciplinary initiative to equip students with the knowledge and tools to manage the complex challenges of climate adaptation, disaster response, and long-term resilience.

Because for all the models we build, the data we analyze, and the systems we test, our work comes down to helping people.

In a state where storms, droughts, and floods can appear without warning, PVAMU is committed to ensuring that Texans are informed and empowered.

Dr. Ali Fares is a Texas A&M University System Regents Professor and the Endowed Professor of Water Security and Water-Energy-Food Nexus at Prairie View A&M University.