The Atlantic Hurricane Season officially began on June 1, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting and above-normal year for tropical development.
Hurricane season in the Atlantic typically runs between June 1 through November 30. This year, NOAA Forecasters say there’s likely going to be 14 to 21 named storms. Six to 10 could become hurricanes, including three to six major hurricanes.
NOAA says “the ongoing La Niña that is likely to persist throughout the hurricane season, warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, weaker tropical Atlantic trade winds and an enhanced west African monsoon” is why this hurricane season is anticipated to be more active than normal.
As of right now, there have been no named storms in the tropics, but that may change within the next couple of days. There’s a cluster of storms near the Yucatan Peninsula that has an 80 percent chance of developing into a tropical system as it moves into the warmer Gulf waters. If this storm develops, its official name would become Alex.
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center will update the 2022 Atlantic seasonal outlook in early August, just ahead of peak season.