FLORIDA, United States--Forecasters are now predicting a higher likelihood of an above-normal season and they increased the predicted number of named storms and major hurricanes.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued an update of its hurricane season outlook on Wednesday, saying this season has the potential to be extremely active and could be the most active since 2010.
Forecasters now say there is a 60 per cent chance of an above-normal season (compared to the May prediction of a 45 per cent chance), with 14-19 named storms (increased from the May predicted range of 11-17) and 2-5 major hurricanes (increased from the May predicted range of 2-4). A prediction of 5-9 hurricanes remains unchanged from the initial May outlook.
“We’re now entering the peak of the season when the bulk of the storms usually form,” said Gerry Bell, lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. “The wind and air patterns in the area of the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean where many storms develop are very conducive to an above-normal season. This is in part because the chance of an El Niño forming, which tends to prevent storms from strengthening, has dropped significantly from May.”
Bell noted other factors that point to an above-normal season include warmer waters across the tropical Atlantic than models had previously predicted and higher predicted activity from available models.
In just the first nine weeks of this season, there have been six named storms, which is half the number of storms during an average six-month season and double the number of storms that would typically form by early August. An average Atlantic Hurricane Season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, produces 12 named storms, of which six become hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.
The updated outlook is based on the current and evolving atmospheric and oceanic conditions, the most recent model predictions and pre-and early-season storm activity. The numbers announced on Wednesday include the season activity to date.
The update decreases the chance of a near-normal season from 35 per cent to 30 per cent, and a below-normal season from 20 per cent to only 10 per cent from the initial outlook issued in May.
The Atlantic basin has seen six named storms: Arlene in April; Bret and Cindy in June; Don and Emily in July; and Franklin which formed last week before fizzling out after reaching hurricane strength. ~ Caribbean360 ~
