From NOAA: El Niño expected to develop and suppress the number and intensity of tropical cyclones
In its 2014 Atlantic hurricane season outlook issued today, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a near-normal or below-normal season.
The main driver of this year’s outlook is the anticipated development of El Niño this summer.
El Niño causes stronger wind shear, which reduces the number and intensity of tropical storms and hurricanes. El Niño can also strengthen the trade winds and increase the atmospheric stability across the tropical Atlantic, making it more difficult for cloud systems coming off of Africa to intensify into tropical storms.
The outlook calls for a 50 percent chance of a below-normal season, a 40 percent chance of a near-normal season, and only a 10 percent chance of an above-normal season.
2014 Atlantic hurricane outlook summary. (Credit: NOAA)
For the six-month hurricane season, which begins June 1, NOAA predicts a 70 percent likelihood of 8 to 13 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 3 to 6 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 1 to 2 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher).
These numbers are near or below the seasonal averages of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes, based on the average from 1981 to 2010. The Atlantic hurricane region includes the North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.
“Thanks to the environmental intelligence from NOAA’s network of earth observations, our scientists and meteorologists can provide life-saving products like our new storm surge threat map and our hurricane forecasts,” said Kathryn Sullivan, Ph.D., NOAA administrator. “And even though we expect El Niño to suppress the number of storms this season, it’s important to remember it takes only one land falling storm to cause a disaster.”
Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, said the Atlantic – which has seen above-normal seasons in 12 of the last 20 years – has been in an era of high activity for hurricanes since 1995. However, this high-activity pattern is expected to be offset in 2014 by the impacts of El Niño, and by cooler Atlantic Ocean temperatures than we’ve seen in recent years.
“Atmospheric and oceanic conditions across the tropical Pacific are already taking on some El Niño characteristics. Also, we are currently seeing strong trade winds and wind shear over the tropical Atlantic, and NOAA’s climate models predict these conditions will persist, in part because of El Niño,” Bell said. “The expectation of near-average Atlantic Ocean temperatures this season, rather than the above-average temperatures seen since 1995, also suggests fewer Atlantic hurricanes.”
Humberto was the first of only two Atlantic hurricanes in 2013. (Credit: NOAA)
NOAA is rolling out new tools at the National Hurricane Center this year. An experimental mapping tool will be used to show communities their storm surge flood threat. The map will be issued for coastal areas when a hurricane or tropical storm watch is first issued, or approximately 48 hours before the anticipated onset of tropical storm force winds. The map will show land areas where storm surge could occur and how high above ground the water could reach in those areas.
Early testing on continued improvements to NOAA’s Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting model (HWRF) shows a 10 percent improvement in this year’s model compared to last year. Hurricane forecasters use the HWRF along with other models to produce forecasts and issue warnings. The HWRF model is being adopted by a number of Western Pacific and Indian Ocean rim nations.
NOAA’s seasonal hurricane outlook is not a hurricane landfall forecast; it does not predict how many storms will hit land or where a storm will strike. Forecasts for individual storms and their impacts will be provided throughout the season by NOAA’s National Hurricane Center.
“It only takes one hurricane or tropical storm making landfall to have disastrous impacts on our communities,” said Joe Nimmich, FEMA associate administrator for Response and Recovery. “Just last month, Pensacola, Florida saw five inches of rain in 45 minutes – without a tropical storm or hurricane. We need you to be ready. Know your risk for hurricanes and severe weather, take action now to be prepared and be an example for others in your office, school or community. Learn more about how to prepare for hurricanes at www.ready.gov/hurricanes.”
Next week, May 25-31, is National Hurricane Preparedness Week. To help those living in hurricane-prone areas prepare, NOAA offers hurricane preparedness tips, along with video and audio public service announcements in both English and Spanish, featuring NOAA hurricane experts and the FEMA Administrator at www.hurricanes.gov/prepare.
NOAA’s outlook for the Eastern Pacific basin is for a near-normal or above-normal hurricane season, and the Central Pacific basin is also expected to have a near-normal or above-normal season. NOAA will issue an updated outlook for the Atlantic hurricane season in early August, just prior to the historical peak of the season.
Additional Links:
Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season Outlook discussion: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/outlooks/hurricane.shtml
El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Diagnostic discussion: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.html
National Hurricane Preparedness Week:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/
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Meanwhile, the major hurricane drought continues, with 3,142 days expected when hurricane season starts on June 1st. With this NOAA 2014 forecast, it may get even longer:
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The Farmers Almanac, which has proven to be much more accurate than any NOAA forecasts predicts possible hurricanes striking the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
They are getting smarter. They just made a “cant lose” prediction. If it is indeed a low count season, they can say their models are right. If it comes in way above average, they can say…”It is much worse than even the models predict!”. In either case they can use that to convince the gullible that CAGW is real and we must hand over our wallets and freedoms immediately.
Re Dell from Michigan says: May 22, 2014 at 10:40 am
Your alternative 2 (17%) and alternative 3 (80%) sum to Cook’s 97%. You might be on to something.
Given the history of NOAA’s seasonal hurricane forecasts, that means that this year will either be a complete dud way below normal or the worst hurricane season in a generation.
In the words of Astro, “Rut -Roh.” How many years have they been projecting a worse than normal season only to have nada?
Neil Jordan says: Re Dell from Michigan says: May 22, 2014 at 10:40 am
“Your alternative 2 (17%) and alternative 3 (80%) sum to Cook’s 97%. You might be on to something.”
You got me figured out. Since supposedly only 3% are “Global warming deniers”, that 3% would apply to #1. Therefore the other remaining 2 possibilities must add up to the remaining supposed 97% consensus.
;>P
Pat, would like to buy a vowel.
Barbara Boxer must be apoplectic – no huge increase in storms as she predicted, declining prospects for the lethal carbon tax she pushes.
Early testing on continued improvements to NOAA’s Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting model (HWRF) shows a 10 percent improvement in this year’s model compared to last year.
Based on a season that hasn’t begun, interesting.
God help us all!
Based on NOAA’s track record, I am now very concerned about an active season with bad storms hitting land.
@ur momisugly alcheson says:
May 22, 2014 at 11:14 am
“They are getting smarter. They just made a “cant lose” prediction. If it is indeed a low count season, they can say their models are right. If it comes in way above average, they can say…”It is much worse than even the models predict!”. In either case they can use that to convince the gullible that CAGW is real and we must hand over our wallets and freedoms immediately.”
+1
I think it is entirely possible that there is that level of cynicism in the climate catastrophe community.
We start with a very small number of possible outcomes realistically there is only a chance of between 0-20 or so hurricanes then we give ourselves a wide range, we predict 3-6 hurricanes in other words we could be off by 100% and still be right. Then we take a wild guess at how likely it is to be more or less than normal and come up with it is near 50/50. We then call then call this wild guess “science” we hope no one notices that throwing dice would be about as good, and we hope no one asks about our track record.
Gah. Hurricanes have been down that whole period; the temperatures are not driving the count.