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NOAA Issues Cyclone Season Warning

Hurricane Franklin
Hurricane Franklin

Published Aug 9, 2017 8:15 PM by The Maritime Executive

On August 9, NOAA issued an update for its 2017 hurricane season outlook, predicting an above-normal season. The season has the potential to be extremely active and could be the most active since 2010, says NOAA.

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. In the first nine weeks of this season, there have been six named storms which is double the number of storms that would typically form by early August. 

Forecasters now say there is a 60 percent chance of an above-normal season (compared to the May prediction of 45 percent chance), with 14-19 named storms (increased from the May predicted range of 11-17) and two to five major hurricanes (increased from the May predicted range of two to four). A prediction for five to nine 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 Dr 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 Nino forming, which tends to prevent storms from strengthening, has dropped significantly from May.”

Another factor that point to an above-normal season is warmer waters across the tropical Atlantic than models previously predicted.

The numbers announced above include season activity to-date. The Atlantic basin has seen six named storms (Arlene in April; Bret and Cindy in June; Don and Emily in July; and Franklin in August). Two of these storms, Cindy and Emily, struck the U.S. Cindy made landfall on June 22 at the Louisiana-Texas border and caused heavy rain, inland flooding and multiple tornado outbreaks. Emily made landfall on July 31 in Anna Maria Island, Florida. Franklin is predicted to make landfall in Mexico overnight as a hurricane.