NOAA predicts 65% chance 2022 hurricane season will be more active than normal
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a forecast for the 2022 hurricane season, and it is projecting another record breaking year.
On key points the new report is in line with other forecasts. Previously Dr. Phil Klotzbach and his team at Colorado State University issued a seasonal outlook, expecting 19 named storms, 9 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes. And NOAA said we likely see 14-21 named storms, which names already been picked, 6-10 hurricanes, and 6 major hurricanes, where wind speeds exceed 111 mph.
NOAA's model predicts 65% chance this season will be more active, but it is not just because of the climate change. There's also a La Niña effect, making the southern part of the U.S. dryer and warmer. These conditions are ideal for hurricanes to grow in size and strength.
Of course climate change is affecting storms. Higher ocean temperatures causing storms to develop and gain strength, while warmer air leads to more intense rainfall. At the same time raising sea levels make storms significantly more devastating when they make landfall.
Here are 7 things you should do to prepare for 2022 hurricane season:
This year’s hurricane season will last from June 1 to November 30.
- The summer the US faced climate events once seen only in fiction
- Tens of thousands demand end to fossil fuels ahead of U.N. climate summit
- Climatologists call for "Return to the Holocene" amidst renewable energy boom