Colorado State University updated its forecast for the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
They are now calling for 24 named storms, 12 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes. CSU is expecting us to have to use Greek alphabet once we run out of our regular name list. The only other time we’ve had to use the Greek alphabet was during the historic 2005 season. That year we had a record 28 named storms.
The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration is releasing their updated forecast for the 2020 Hurricane Season on Thursday at 11 a.m.
Currently, NOAA is calling for an above average season with 13 to 19 named storms, 6 to 10 hurricanes and 3 to 6 major hurricanes, that is category 3 or greater.
Its been an active and above average season so far, with 9 named storms already. Usually by this time we average only 2 named storms. Also, we’ve already seen 5 of these storms make landfall in the United States. Bertha made landfall in South Carolina as a tropical storm with winds of 50 mph. Cristobal moved onshore in Louisiana, also as a tropical storm with 50 mph. Fay was the first tropical storm to make landfall in New Jersey since Irene in 2011. Hanna moved ashore in southern Texas as a category 1 hurricane with 90 mph winds. Isaias was the most recent storm to impact the U.S. with landfall occurring in near Ocean Isle Beach, NC as a category 1 hurricane with 85 mph maximum sustained winds.
We have broken numerous records already as well. Of the 9 named storms, 6 of them were the earliest on record for their specific letter. We had the earliest C, E, F, G, H, and I named storms.
While no two hurricane seasons are exactly the same, this year is comparable to the 2005 season. The previous records for the E, F, G, H, and I named storms were all held by the storms from 2005.
It can be alarming to see the prediction of an above average season, but it’s important not to solely focus on the numbers. Remember, it only takes one storm.
Lets use the 2010 and 1992 season as examples. 2010 was well above average with 19 named storms, but we only had 1 tropical storm make landfall in the U.S. Whereas in 1992, the season was below average with only 7 named storms, but Andrew came barreling into Miami.