Hurricane Season Starts Today in the U.S. What Should You Expect This Year?

The hurricane season starts today, and although the outlook is for an average season, meteorologists warn that there is still the possibility of devastating storms, especially in coastal states.And what to expect in the coming months?How many hurricanes will there be?The CNN tracked two forecasts for the hurricane season this year: the forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), released last week, and another from researchers at Colorado State University, who have been issuing seasonal forecasts for over 37 years.
NOAA officials are predicting an average hurricane season, with 12 to 17 named tropical storms, five to nine of which could become hurricanes. They expect that four of them could develop into major hurricanes – category 3 or stronger.
Phil Klotzbach, a researcher from Colorado State, told CNN in April that his group was forecasting a slightly below-average season this year: 13 named storms, six hurricanes, and two major hurricanes.
The main difference between tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes lies in wind speed and the level of organization of the system.
While a tropical depression represents the initial stage of cyclone development, so-called tropical storms exhibit more structure and stronger winds. Hurricanes – the most powerful and dangerous of the three – have stronger winds and a well-defined eye, making them capable of causing extensive damage over large areas.How many will make landfall?It is impossible to predict how many storms may hit the Caribbean or the U.S. But history has shown that even in years with average or below-average storms, it is possible for one or another hurricane to reach the mainland as a threat to local populations.
Last year, for example, was an average season, but Hurricane Ian was a catastrophe for Florida. The storm killed over 100 people when it made landfall in September, devastated the coast around Fort Myers, and caused flooding that lasted for weeks.How do climate changes affect hurricanes?Hurricanes are natural phenomena shaped by complex atmospheric and oceanic dynamics. But now they are increasingly influenced by human-caused climate change.
As our planet continues to warm due to fossil fuel pollution, the impacts are manifesting in the intensification and alteration of the behavior of these storms. Through a combination of warmer waters, increased atmospheric moisture, and rising sea levels, the climate crisis has set the stage for hurricanes to pose unprecedented risks to coastal communities.What names will the hurricanes have this year?The World Meteorological Organization chooses the names of hurricanes, and the list changes every six years. The names alternate gender during the season, and the list excludes names that start with the letters Q, U, X, Y, or Z. If there are more than 21 storms in a season, the names switch to the Greek alphabet.
Some names are retired after particularly devastating storms. “Ian” and “Fiona” were retired last year, for example, and 96 names have been removed from the list since 1953.Names for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season:Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harold, Idalia, Jose, Katia, Lee, Margot, Nigel, Ophelia, Philippe, Rina, Sean, Tammy, Vince, and WhitneySource: National Hurricane Center / World Meteorological Organization and CNN