Atlantic hurricane season may be worst in decades
Posted on 05/31/24 at 11:40
- The Atlantic hurricane season is approaching.
- NOAA says it could be the worst in years.
- There could be as many as 13 hurricanes.
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially starts this Saturday, is expected to be one of the most active and intense in decades.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts there could be as many as 13 hurricanes and the number of storms making landfall could be double the usual amount.
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The administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated that this is «forecast for named storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes is the highest NOAA has ever issued for the May outlook.»
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NOAA predicts an ‘above normal’ Atlantic hurricane season
NOAA warned there is an 85 percent chance that the Atlantic hurricane season will be above normal.
They predict between 17 and 25 named storms and 8 to 13 hurricanes, of which between 4 and 7 could be «major.»
These figures are well above the seasonal average, which is 14 named storms and seven hurricanes, three of them major category, according to The Washington Post.
If realized, this could make this year’s Atlantic hurricane season one of the worst in decades.
La Niña and overheated Atlantic waters
Maria Torres, a NOAA meteorologist and director of communications for the National Weather Service spoke about the predictions.
«A very important factor favoring the development of tropical systems this summer and fall are the warm ocean temperatures.»
This, combined with the return of the La Niña phenomenon in the Pacific, «increases the likelihood of more storms,» she added.
«Regardless of hurricane season comparisons, the important thing is that we must be prepared and have a plan,» Torres warned.
Property damage could be over $30 billion
Meanwhile, professor Hugh Willoughby, from the Department of Earth and Environment at Florida International University (FIU), expressed deep concern about the overall forecasts.
«It is very likely that we will have one or two landfalls of really damaging phenomena on the U.S. coast.»
This could result in property damage exceeding $30 billion, he told EFE.
