Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have announced that there is a bigger chance than previously thought for an above-normal hurricane season in the Atlantic this season.
The likeliness of an above-average hurricane season has jumped from 30% (predicted in May) to 45%. The likeliness of near-normal activity is at 35%, while below-normal is at 20%, a decrease since the last report.
The NOAA forecasters have been monitoring different oceanic and atmospheric patterns which has led them to this conclusion. Since the end of El Nino, they have noticed that there are more factors that relate to above-normal hurricane activity.
The prediction of number of possible storms have also increased to 10-17 storms; of which 5-9 of them will become hurricanes. They believe 2 of these hurricanes could turn out to be major ones.
The lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, Gerry Bell, states that there could be a much busier season ahead of us.
