The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted another above-average Atlantic hurricane season for 2022, making it the seventh consecutive year of such a prediction.
“For the range of storms expected, NOAA calls for a 70 per cent probability of the following ranges; 14 to 21 named storms with top winds of at least 39 miles per hour, of these, six to 10 will become hurricanes with top winds of at least 74 miles per hour, and of these three to six major hurricanes ranked as Category 3, 4, or 5 with top winds of at least 111 miles per hour,” said NOAA administrator Richard Spinrad.
Spinrad delivered the predictions at a press conference out of the New York City Emergency Management department earlier today 24 May.
The average hurricane season calls for 14 named storms and seven hurricanes, three of which are major. It is calculated using a 30-year period of storm activity which spans from 1991 to 2020.
NOAA’s predictions are roughly in line with that of the Colorado State University’s Tropical Meteorology Project which also called for an above-average hurricane season.
In its April forecast, CSU predicted 19 named storms and nine hurricanes four of which they said are likely to strengthen into major hurricanes.
“Caribbean and subtropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures are warmer than normal,” reads CSU’s forecast in part. “We anticipate an above-average probability for major hurricanes making landfall along the continental United States coastline and in the Caribbean.”
Each year, the Cayman Islands National Weather Service forecasters review the predictions from NOAA and CSU, before issuing their own forecast.
Cayman Compass reached out to the CINWS in regards to their predictions for the 2022 hurricane season. The Compass was told information would be provided in time for the 1 June start of the hurricane season.
The storm names for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season are: Alex, Bonnie, Colin, Danielle, Earl, Fiona, Gaston, Hermine, Ian, Julia, Karl, Lisa, Martin, Nicole, Owen, Paula, Richard, Shary, Tobias, Virginia and Walter.
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