HOUSTON: U.S. government forecasters say up to seven major hurricanes may form in an “extraordinary” 2024 Atlantic hurricane season beginning June 1.
Forecasters expect between four and seven major hurricanes, from a projected eight to 13 hurricanes. These in turn would stem from an expected 17 to 25 named tropical storms.
Rick Spinrad, administrator of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said an average hurricane season produces 14 named storms (winds of at least 63 kph). Of these, seven become hurricanes (winds over 119 kph) and three become “major,” with wind speeds over 178 kph.
The official NOAA seasonal hurricane forecast is out with above-average numbers expected for the Atlantic basin this year! Hurricane season for the Atlantic officially begins on June 1st, which is next Saturday. pic.twitter.com/K4XcrF7jXA
— RadarOmega (@RadarOmega) May 23, 2024
Warm sea temperatures and falling wind shear conditions at the height of the hurricane season in August and September are expected to contribute to more and stronger storms this year, the forecasters said.
“This forecast has higher ranges than 2005, (a record-breaking season that spawned Katrina and Rita),” said lead forecaster Matthew Rosencrans. “These are the highest ranges we have ever forecast.”
In 2023 there were three major hurricanes that formed among seven hurricanes and 20 named storms, the fourth-greatest number of named storms since 1950. The most damaging, Idalia, tore up the west coast of Florida and made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane.
NOAA released its outlook for the 2024 Atlantic #HurricaneSeason today, and it’s the most aggressive forecast on record.
Our hurricane expert @DrRickKnabb breaks it down: pic.twitter.com/Pd0krP0Dwx
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) May 23, 2024
Private forecaster AccuWeather said there’s a 10-15% chance of 30 or more storms in this hurricane season.
(REUTERS)
