Hurricanes typically weaken over land. But if the ground is already wet from earlier rains, storms can receive an extra jolt that keeps them churning. Hurricanes typically weaken over land. But if the ground is already wet from earlier rains, storms can receive an extra jolt that keeps them churning. Hurricane Helene (2024), Hurricanes and Tropical Storms, Rain, Floods, Global Warming, Research, North Carolina, Georgia, Appalachian Region NYT > Science