MIAMI – After three years of more active hurricane seasons than usual, this year looks to be about fifteen percent less active than usual. This is due to the influence of El Nino, which is less favorable for the development of storms and hurricanes in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said.
Thirteen storms, six hurricanes, three of which will be severe. Although these numbers are lower than normal, it is important to remember that a storm can cause catastrophic damage.
El Nino
El Nino is associated with warm ocean water that forms in the central and eastern Pacific, affecting weather patterns around the world. This increases the likelihood of more Pacific hurricanes, but decreases the likelihood of Atlantic hurricanes.
La Niña is over and sea water has returned to normal. It is expected to last till September. Since 2020, the ocean has been under the influence of a La Niña event, where sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean near the equator were below average. This film is now slowly changing.
Storm names
Last year’s forecast was for 17 named storms, eight hurricanes, four major hurricanes and at least one hurricane to pass through the Caribbean with a 58 percent probability. Ultimately, the 2022 season ended with fourteen storms, eight hurricanes, two of which were severe, Fiona and Ian.
This year’s storm names are Arlene, Brett, Cindy, Dan, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harold, Italia, Jose, Katia, Lee, Margot, Nigel, Ophelia, Philip, Rina, Sean, Tommy, Vince and Whitney.
The hurricane season starts on June 1 and ends on November 30 this year.
