Colorado State University: Atlantic hurricane season expected to be ‘above average’
Researchers at a flagship climate organization predicts an above average hurricane season.
By Michael McGrady, Maritime Direct Americas & Pacific Correspondent
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — The Tropical Meteorology Project research team at Colorado State University announced that it had predicted 17 named storms during the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. This year, the season is expected to run from June 1 to November 30.
Of those storms, the researchers expect eight to become hurricanes and four to reach a major hurricane’s strength.
This includes category 3 or greater on the Saffir/Simpson wind scale with sustained winds of 111 miles per hour or greater. The warmer subtropical Atlantic also favors an active 2021 Atlantic hurricane season.
“The tropical Pacific currently has weak La Niña conditions, that is, water temperatures are somewhat cooler than normal in the eastern and central tropical Pacific,” reports the research team.
“While these waters may warm slightly during the next few months, CSU does not currently anticipate El Niño for the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. El Niño tends to increase upper-level westerly winds across the Caribbean into the tropical Atlantic, tearing apart hurricanes as they try to form.”
This research also indicates that it would impact shipping during these seasons.
The above-average 2020 season saw a record of 30 named storms and wreaked havoc on the nation’s oil and gas production.
CSU’s team will issue forecast updates on June 3, July 8, and August 5.
