Weather & Science
Odds of Abnormally Intense Atlantic Hurricane Season Are Growing, Forecasters Say
- Up to 21 named storms could form in Atlantic, NOAA predicts
- Forecaster points to record sea surface temperatures
Debris from shops and restaurants following Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers Beach, Florida in 2022.
Photographer: Eva Marie Uzcategui/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
The odds of an unusually active Atlantic hurricane season are growing as ocean temperatures get hotter, according to US forecasters.
A total of 14 to 21 named storms could take shape, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday in an update to its outlook. In May, NOAA predicted as many as 17. Storms get named when winds reach 39 miles (63 kilometers) per hour, with an average Atlantic season producing 14 of them. Five have formed since the beginning of the year.