The Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins June 1st: Will it be an "above average" year?

The Atlantic Hurricane Season begins on June 1st. Initial indications are that this will be an above average year. The National Weather Service Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook issued on May 27th calls for:

  • 14 to 23 named storms (top winds of 39 mph or higher)
  • 8 to 14 hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or higher)
  • 3 to 7 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; winds of at least 111 mph)

The Tropical Meteorology Project at Colorado State University also estimates above average activity predicting "that 2010 will have about 8 hurricanes (average is 5.9)" and "15 named storms (average is 9.6)." The Tropical Meteorology Project uses hurricane activity predictors that are similar to those used by the National Weather Service. Other groups that forecast seasonal hurricane activity are also predicting a similar trend. You can find some other seasonal forecasts from our corporate members.

Hurricane Preparedness

Regardless of the number of hurricanes forecast, you need to be prepared in the event just one heads your way. Some years with a high number of hurricanes occurring have resulted in no storms making landfall in the United States. Conversely, some storms have made landfall in years with relatively few storms. The best recommendation is to be prepared regardless of the number of storms predicted in any given year.

By knowing your vulnerability and what actions you should take, you can reduce the effects of a tropical cyclone disaster. The following websites have useful information to help you prepare now.

Background Image on the Main Page

"On March 16 at 03:05 UTC, images from NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites were combined to show the close proximity of Tropical Cyclones Tomas (19P) and Ului (20P) in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Credit: NASA MODIS Rapid Response Team". To see the original image in high resolution, go to http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/archives/2010/h2010_Tomas.html