Global Warming Not Causing More Hurricane Damage

This must be very disappointing to Al Gore:

And a team of scientists has concluded that global warming is not to blame for an increase in economic damages from hurricanes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports on its Web site that the scientists say the higher damage figures are not due to a spike in the number or intensity of hurricanes — but rather to greater population, infrastructure and wealth on the coastlines.

Says one of the researchers — who works at NOAA — "There is nothing in the U.S. hurricane damage record that indicates global warming has caused a significant increase in destruction along our coasts."

That won't stop the usual suspects from making the same spurious claims the next time there's a bit storm in a heavily populated area.