This hurricane season was the first in more than 30 years without a named storm in the Atlantic basin during Labor Day. (Credit: Mike Mareen/Adobe Stock)
The United States is seeing one of its quietest hurricane seasons in decades — but that might not last much longer, according to a new report from AccuWeather.
The Atlantic hurricane season typically reaches its peak on Sept. 10, when water temperatures reach their highest and atmospheric conditions are more likely to support the development of tropical storms.
But for the first time in almost 10 years, there aren’t any named storms currently brewing as the season reaches its peak, and there have been relatively few storms at all so far this year. This hurricane season was also the first in more than 30 years without a named storm in the Atlantic basin during Labor Day.
AccuWeather forecasters say surges of dry air, Saharan dust and disruptive wind shear have contributed to a calmer first half of the season.
“It is unusual for the tropics to be this quiet, but not unexpected,” said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert, in a statement. “AccuWeather predicted in March, when we issued our hurricane season forecast, that surges of dry air could lead to a midseason lull. We have been forecasting the second half of the season to be more active than the first.”
Activity could pick up as early as next week, as the dry air, dust and wind shear start to clear out. In the Gulf, sea surface temperatures and ocean heat content have reached alarming highs.
“This exceptional warmth in the Gulf is troubling,” DaSilva said. “The ocean heat content in the Gulf has soared to a new record high that has not been reported before at any point in the season, not just the climatological peak.”
AccuWeather is still predicting an above-average hurricane season this year, with 13 to 18 named storms, seven to 10 hurricanes and three to five major hurricanes.
© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.