Zachary Fitzgerald
Forecasters are predicting slightly below average storm activity for the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, but say coastal residents should prepare for the worst as the chance of a dangerous storm developing is always possible.
Researchers at Colorado State University anticipate that the 2017 Atlantic basin hurricane season will have slightly below average activity. The season begins June 1 and ends November 30. Philip J. Klotzbach and Michael M. Bell of university’s atmospheric science department authored the report released April 6.
They are predicting 11 named storms, four hurricanes and two major hurricanes. A median season has 12 named storms, 6.5 hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
Forecasters expect a below-average probability for major hurricanes making landfall along the U.S. coastline and in the Caribbean.
The Colorado State hurricane forecast is based on an extended-range early April statistical prediction method that was developed using 29 years of past data. The tropical Atlantic has cooled over the past month, and the far North Atlantic is currently colder than normal, the report said.
These cold anomalies tend to force atmospheric conditions that are less conducive for Atlantic hurricane formation and intensification, the report stated.
“As is the case with all hurricane seasons, coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season for them,” the report said. “They should prepare the same for every season, regardless of how much activity is predicted.”