Batten down the hatches. Hurricane activity in the North Atlantic this year is expected to be above average and may reach the 鈥渉yperactive鈥� level of the last three seasons.
Hurricane formation is thought to depend on warmer waters, which provide energy for a storm, and an absence of high-altitude wind patterns that would otherwise 鈥渂ehead鈥� a storm. The atmospheric conditions that led to last year鈥檚 extended hurricane season have dissipated and sea-surface temperatures are not as high as they were at this time last year. However, forecasters say high-altitude winds over the central North Atlantic may encourage storm development.
On Monday, meteorologists at the US National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, said the region could expect 13 to 16 tropical storms, with sustained winds of at least 63 kilometres per hour. That鈥檚 well above the 40-year average of 11, but less than last year鈥檚 tally of 28, of which 15 reached hurricane strength. The centre predicts that eight to 10 tropical storms will reach hurricane strength, and four to six of these could become major hurricanes of at least category 3 strength. Last year that tally was seven, including a record four that reached the highest category 5. The season officially starts on 1 June.
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