Experts brace for busy hurricane season
They expect as many as 10 storms in the Atlantic
Buckle up.
The six-month Atlantic hurricane season began Wednesday, and two potential storms are brewing.
One system is expected to develop near southeastern Mexico and western Cuba over the next few days, and AccuWeather meteorologists said the tropical feature could approach Florida and the Bahamas over the weekend and early next week.
If it becomes a named tropical storm, it would be Alex. Beyond that, the next storm name is Bonnie, followed by Colin, Danielle and Earl.
The second potential system is in the Atlantic but has only a 10% chance of forming, the National Hurricane Center said Wednesday.
The Atlantic hurricane season will end Nov. 30.
The eastern Pacific hurricane season officially began May 15, and one storm has formed: Hurricane Agatha crashed into southern Mexico on Monday as a Category 2 hurricane with 105 mph winds. The storm made history as the strongest hurricane recorded to come ashore in May during the eastern Pacific hurricane season.
What’s the forecast?
The federal government expects yet another active Atlantic hurricane season: As many as 10 hurricanes could form, forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said last month.
An average season sees seven hurricanes.
Meteorologists from Colorado State University, among the nation’s top hurricane forecasters, predicted nine hurricanes would form this year.
The Weather Channel and AccuWeather also predicted a busier-thanusual season.
If predictions prove accurate, this would be the seventh consecutive season with above-average activity.
The National Weather Service said the time to prepare for a hurricane is now, when people have the time and are not under pressure from an approaching storm. Here are a few tips:
Find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation zone. If you do, plan where you would go and how you would get there.
You’re going to need supplies, not just to get through the storm but for the potentially lengthy aftermath. Have enough nonperishable food, water and medicine to last each person in your family a minimum of three days. Electricity and water could be out for at least that long. You’ll need cash, a batterypowered radio and flashlights. You may need a portable crank- or solar-powered USB charger for your cellphones.
Call your insurance company or agent and ask for a checkup to make sure you have enough homeowners insurance to repair or even replace your home. Don’t forget coverage for your car or boat. Remember, standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding.
If you plan to ride out the storm in your home, make sure it is in good repair and up to hurricane building code specifications. Many retrofits are not as costly or time-consuming as you may think. Have the proper plywood, steel or aluminum panels to board up the windows and doors.
How many hurricanes in 2021?
Last year was an intense hurricane season: 21 named tropical storms and hurricanes.
This was the third-most for any hurricane season, behind 2020’s record of 30 storms and the 28 storms that formed in 2005. A typical season sees 14 named storms.
For the second year in a row, the entire list of names for the season was used up, from Tropical Storm Ana in May to Tropical Storm Wanda in November.
It was a record sixth consecutive year of above-normal activity.
Hurricane Ida was the most memorable storm of 2021. Ida killed 91 people in the USA, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NOAA estimated Ida inflicted almost $65 billion in damage. That’s the fifth-costliest tropical cyclone in U.S. history behind Katrina, Harvey, Maria and Sandy, according to Weather.com.