Aug 9, 2024 - Energy & Climate

NOAA issues warning as hurricane season nears peak stretch

Ben Geman

Graphic on NOAA's hurricane season forecast — Image: Courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal hurricane experts unfortunately see no reason to soften their outlook for a highly active Atlantic hurricane season — one that has already featured multiple damaging, fatal storms.

Why it matters: Climate change can make tropical storms and hurricanes more dangerous, and hurricane season is nearing its traditional peak stretch.

Systems draw strength from warmer oceans and air, producing more rainfall, and some hurricanes are also seeing rapid intensification.

Driving the news: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Thursday issued a mid-season outlook (see above) that largely hews to its initial version in May.

The big picture: "Atmospheric and oceanic conditions have set the stage for an extremely active hurricane season that could rank among the busiest on record," the latest outlook states.

This season has already brought four named storms, most recently Tropical Storm Debby (since downgraded) that's soaking several East Coast states this week.
It initially made landfall in Florida on Monday as a Category 1 hurricane.

The bottom line: "Sea surface temperatures remain abnormally high, and La Nina is still expected to emerge during the hurricane season, so the time to prepare is now," Matthew Rosencrans, lead hurricane season forecaster with NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, said in a statement.

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NOAA issues warning as hurricane season nears peak stretch

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