A list of the Atlantic tropical cyclone names for 2021. (Image: Canadian Hurricane Centre/Zoom video capture)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting another above-normal Atlantic hurricane season.
Forecasts are calling for 13 to 20 named storms, including six to 10 hurricanes and three to five that would be considered major.
Last year, conditions surpassed the predictions with 30 named storms, including eight that entered the Canadian Hurricane Centre’s response zone. About 34 per cent of storms that form in the Atlantic Ocean find their way into the response zone.
While it does not appear that this year will be as active, a warm winter may pose increased challenges with higher water temperatures.
“What can typically happen is it reduces the rate of weakening as a storm is approaching,“ said Bob Robichaud, warning preparedness meteorologist with the Canadian Hurricane Centre.
Hurricanes take heat stored in the ocean and pump it into the atmosphere to try and balance the ocean temperatures.
It remains to be seen what parts of Atlantic Canada will see the worst of this hurricane season.
“Everything’s pointing towards an above-average season, what we can’t say at this point before the season, is exactly where those storms are going and how strong there going to be when they get there,” said Robichaud.
A new season is always accompanied by a list of 30 storm names that differ from the previous year. In addition, a supplemental list has been created in the event that the 30 names are not enough.
Robichaud notes that this is not the year to wait until the last minute to prepare for an approaching storm.
“It only takes one storm to make it a bad year … before the season starts, this is the time to stop and think about what you need to do to be ready for the season.”
Hurricane season begins on June 1 and continues until the end of November.
