Thursday, August 12, 2021

NOAA Issues Slight Adjustment to 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Forecast

Hurricane season runs through November 30.
NOAA says to expect 15-21 named storms and
7-10 hurricanes this year. (NOAA file photo)

In its mid-season update, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) made a slight upward revision in its forecast for the current Atlantic hurricane season, which runs through November 30. 

The Climate Prediction Center now says we should expect 15-21 named storms this season, vs. 13-20 in its previous forecast. Of those it is expected that 7-10 will develop into hurricanes (vs. 6-10) and 3-5 are likely to become major hurricanes of category 3 or higher (wind speeds of at least 111 miles per hour). The major hurricane prediction is unchanged from the previous forecast. 


Radio amateurs have long been part of the response to tropical storms and hurricanes and there is a permanent amateur station, WX4NHC, at the National Hurricane Center.