I'd add that although the intergrated yearly average pole-to-equator gradient is indeed weakening, in terms of extreme storms this probably doesn't matter since the gradient is still very strong in winter months in the Northern Hemisphere, and if you pump the atmosphere with more water vapor from the tropics, then intense seasonal storms and extreme flooding can be expected for at least half the year in the Northern Hemisphere - and in midlatitudes, the east-west motion of frontal systems complicates the issue further (though it seems increased water vapor is driving that engine more than anything else).

The Artic amplification effect appears to be having a big effect in the summer months as the decreased gradient allows the polar jet stream to meander southwards, resulting in random persistent blocking events (responsible for recent spate of heat waves) related to Arctic amplification effects on the jet stream (in both hemispheres). Good discussion here:

https://www.carbonbrief.org/jet-stream-is-climate-change-cau...