June 26, 2018

UA Forecasters Predict Fewer Hurricanes This Summer

Annual outlook cites ocean temperature changes for short-term dip in storm numbers.

Hurricane Hurricane Frances as seen from the International Space Station, 2004.
via Pixabay

A University of Arizona hurricane forecast team suggests people can look forward to a calmer than usual summer along the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico.

The group, led by UA Atmospheric Sciences professor Xubin Zeng, has made hurricane season predictions since 2014. Zeng's team analyzed sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic this spring, and concluded less turbulent weather lies ahead.

"For regular hurricanes, including category 1 to 5, we predict four hurricanes this season," he said. "The long-term average is between six and seven, so that's below average."

The forecasters say long-term climate change is still likely to lead to bigger, more damaging hurricane seasons in the future.

The U of A outlook has proven accurate to within two hurricanes per-season since it began issuing storm prediction data in 2014.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona