According to multiple forecasts, a busy 2020 Atlantic hurricane season may be on its way to the Southeast U.S.
The AccuWeather forecast released on March 25th by meteorologist Dan Kottlowski comes nearly 2 months before the Atlantic hurricane season actually begins on June 1st
In the forecast, Kottlowski is predicting 14 to 18 tropical storms, with 7 to 9 of them becoming hurricanes and 2 to 4 of them becoming major or powerful hurricanes with winds stronger than 110 mph.
And on Friday, April 2nd, Dr. Phil Klotzbach, a renowned tropical expert from Colorado State University, issued his annual Atlantic tropical season forecast. Based on his research, he thinks weather patterns this summer will likely be favorable for a more active season than normal as well.
Klotzbach predicts 16 named storms, eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes in the Atlantic basin this season.
Both forecasts are calling for a worse-than-normal 2020 hurricane season.
The past four seasons back to 2015 each have had more hurricanes than the average.
In 2019, 18 named storms formed in the Atlantic with 6 becoming hurricanes and 3 became major hurricanes.
The long-term average is 12 named storms, with six becoming hurricanes and three of those major.
The National Hurricane Center won’t release its official forecast until late May and the Tropical Meteorology Project is expected to release its early forecast next week.
Typically, the accuracy of an early forecast is modest at best. The the June forecast offers good accuracy, and the the August forecasts are usually spot on.
Buckle up Beaufort….we may be in for a bumpy ride this summer and fall.
Let’s hope not.
