While much is going on in the world in the present moment, the predicable, annual hurricane season is rolling in as usual (unfortunately COVID-19 didn't make storms stay at home). Officially from June 1st to November 30th, the average hurricane season comprise of 12 named storms with half of them being hurricanes according to the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. As some of us know from experience, the busiest storm times tend to be around August and September.
However, in 2020, the Atlantic is busier than usual with warmer waters in the tropics that will provide more fuel for more storms. This year, there is a prediction 18 named storms with nine of them being hurricanes. Four hurricanes are predicted to be a category 3 or higher meaning they will have winds sustaining at 178km/hr (111 miles/hr).
According to researchers at the University of Arizona, the Atlantic sea-surface temperatures will be one of the warmest since 1993. Additionally, La Nina weather patterns are predicted to strengthen hurricanes this year. La Nina is a weather phenomenon that changes wind patterns over that Atlantic by bring in colder waters from the Pacific.
While the weather is likely to be more mild in June, our family at AJS would like to help your family prepare for this year's entire hurricane season. Stay tuned for tips, advice, as well as hurricane news and science as our next set of blogs will be dedicated to these topics. For now, we hope everyone is staying home and staying safe!