The waters off the US East Coast have become more favourable for hurricane development, according to a recent study.

The study, published this week in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, showed a 40-year trend of hurricanes strengthening faster off the US Atlantic coast, while the same trend was not seen over the Gulf Coast during the same period.

The study said the findings were consistent with an “increasingly favourable” environment for hurricane growth – and warned that the trend was expected to continue in the coming years as waters continued to warm.

Karthik Balaguru, a climate scientist and lead author of the paper, told The Guardian: “The nearshore environment has absolutely become more favourable for hurricanes near the Atlantic coast and that’s very consistent with the rising hurricane intensification we’ve observed in the region.

“Our findings have profound implications for coastal residents, decision and policymakers.”

The study looked at hurricane intensification rates between 1979 and 2018 and found that the rate has increased significantly near the Atlantic coast, meaning that storms strengthened faster than they had in the past.

The researchers found the increase correlated with an increase in the temperature difference between the land along the coast and the ocean.

While both have warmed during the period, land temperatures have warmed faster than ocean temperatures.

The differential has also caused a wider gap in the difference in air pressure over the ocean and the land, which can contribute to strengthened storms with stronger winds.

Dr Balaguru added: “What we have seen is likely related to climate change. Natural variability does play a role, but to a lesser degree.”