The Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be ‘above-normal’ once again, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

This is the seventh consecutive year that the season, which runs from 1 June to 30 November, is predicted to produce more storms than usual.

NOAA forecasters told the media that the 2022 season will probably have 14 to 21 named storms, six to 10 of which will become hurricanes, with three to six likely to develop into major hurricanes.

According to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, a tropical storm has sustained winds of at least 39 miles per hour (mph), and a hurricane has winds of at least 75mph. Category 3 or stronger hurricanes have sustained winds of at least 111mph.

The NOAA said the increased activity anticipated this hurricane season is “attributed to several climate factors, including the ongoing La Niña that is likely to persist throughout the hurricane season, warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, weaker tropical Atlantic trade winds and an enhanced west African monsoon.”

NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad added: “As we reflect on another potentially busy hurricane season, past storms — such as Superstorm Sandy, which devastated the New York metro area ten years ago — remind us that the impact of one storm can be felt for years. 

“Since Sandy, NOAA’s forecasting accuracy has continued to improve, allowing us to better predict the impacts of major hurricanes to lives and livelihoods.”

NOAA’s prediction comes after experts at the Colorado State University said in April that they expected 19 named storms in 2022, including nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

An average year generates 14 named storms and seven hurricanes. Last year, NOAA increased the numbers for a normal season after a recalculation using improved satellite monitoring and considering climate change.

In 2021 there were 21 named Atlantic storms.

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Sources: NOAA, US News and Loop News. 

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