WASHINGTON — It’s the start of meteorological summer and the beginning of hurricane season.
There has been below-normal activity in the Atlantic Ocean for hurricane season in the last three years. In fact, there has only been four hurricanes — two major hurricanes and 12 named storms. The only storm that really made it onto the east coast was the first storm of the season, Tropical Storm Ana, which made landfall around Myrtle Beach.
This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted that there will be a 70 percent likelihood of 10-16 named storms, although there is still some uncertainty surrounding that number because of ocean temperature patterns.
Since 1995, the region has had pretty high numbers of storms each season mainly because the Atlantic Ocean was warmer. However, that period may have ended since there have been weaker hurricanes in the last three years. In addition, there is a shift to a cooler phase in the Atlantic Ocean water.
The hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to Nov. 30 (although we did have “Hurricane Alex, ”our first named storm of the season, on Jan. 14 in the Atlantic Ocean).
The National Hurricane Center is expecting 10-16 named storms with four to eight being hurricanes and one to four being major hurricanes. However, the StormTeam4 and Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer have their own prediction for the Atlantic hurricane season of 2016.
Expect our forecast on Thursday, and how and if any hurricanes could impact the Washington, D.C. area.
