2020 Hurricane Season Forecast
Important: Weather forecasts and predictions are NOT set-in-stone! These can be helpful to have an idea of what the season could possibly look like, but Mother Nature will do as she wants. Regardless, it’s never a bad idea to be prepared for the worst weather and possibly just have to enjoy the nice stuff.
Accuweather’s 2020 Hurricane Forecast
Named Storms: 14-18
Hurricanes: 7-9
Major Hurricanes (Cat 3 or higher): 2-4
U.S. Impacts: 2-4
Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project 2020 Hurricane Forecast
Named Storms: 18
Hurricanes: 8
Major Hurricanes (Cat 3 or higher): 4
2019 Hurricane Season
Image Courtesy of The Weather Channel
The 2019 season was the 4th consecutive season of “above-average activity” in the Atlantic basin and tied 1969 as the 4th most-active hurricane season on record.
2019 season saw hurricanes Dorian, Humberto and Lorenzo and Tropical Storm Imelda.
Overall the season caused $11 billion in damage and had 18 storms total
The 30-year average for a hurricane season is 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
Storm Facts
Hurricanes: massive storm systems that form over warm ocean waters and move toward land.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.
The Pacific hurricane season runs May 15 to November 30.
Can occur outside of these time frames, though not common.
Can happen along any U.S. coast or in any territory in the Atlantic or Pacific oceans.
Have a spiral or circular system of strong winds rotating around an eye, sometimes hundreds of miles across in diameter
Can affect areas more than 100 miles inland.
Are most active in September
Potential threats include:
powerful winds
heavy rainfall
storm surges
coastal and inland flooding
rip currents
tornadoes
landslides
Hurricanes vs. Typhoons: the same kind of storm just different terms based on geographic location.
Hurricanes - Occur in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific
Hurricane is the term used for tropical cyclones that occur in the Northern Hemisphere running from the Greenwich Meridian all the way to the International Date Line.
Typhoons - Occur in the Northwest Pacific
Typhoons refer to tropical cyclones that occur in the Pacific, north of the equator running west of the International Date Line.
If a storm forms in one place and crosses over the International Date Line, it will change names.
Typhoons can be stronger and occur more frequently than hurricanes, because of the warmer Pacific ocean waters. Tend to cause less damage simply due to their geographic location.
Image Courtesy of The American Red Cross
Size (Speed) Matters:
Hurricanes and typhoons are measured using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Based off of wind speeds and starting with Tropical Depressions to Tropical Storm then Hurricane Categories 1-5. Cat 4 and 5s are the equivalent of Super Typhoons. See graphic below.
Before/Preparation
Emergency Alert System (EAS) - The EAS is the nation’s public warning system requiring broadcasters, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) providers, and direct broadcast satellite (DBS) providers to provide communications capability for the President to address the American public during a national emergency.
EAS Event Codes - Link
Radio:
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office. Broadcasings official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
NWR broadcasts warnings, alerts, and post-event information for all types of hazards – including earthquakes, wildfires, flash floods, thunderstorms, tornadoes, winter storms, tsunamis, avalanches, chemical releases, oil spills, and public safety alerts (such as AMBER alerts or 911 Telephone outages).
Frequencies: 162.400, 162.425, 162.450, 162.475, 162.500, 162.525, 162.550.
Radio recommendations: Emergency broadcasts are unable to be heard on conventional AM/FM receivers. Weather Radios with location-specific Emergency Alert Support come in a wide-range of models and form factors.
Evacuation Routes - predesignated routes that are designed to get people inland and away from areas in danger of flooding or being damaged by high winds and/or storm surge. In the event that local authorities call for an evacuation be prepared!
Look up your local evacuation routes ahead of time and familiarize yourself with them and how they’re marked.
Have a contact plan with family and friends both local and distant so they know where you’re going and when to expect you.
Make sure your car has a full tank of gas well before a storm is forecast to make landfall.
With the current added threat of Covid-19 make sure you have face coverings for all family members over 2-years-old, hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes and basic cleaning supplies.
Have a Vehicle Kit already in your car, fully stocked and ready to go.
Have Egress Bags that will cover the needs of your household and can be grabbed easily - pets included!
Vehicle Kits, Egress Bags, Pet Kits, Medical Kits & more can be purchased HERE
Sources/Resources
American Red Cross
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center
Link - Central Pacific, Eastern North Pacific, Atlantic current forecast information
The Weather Channel
DISCLAIMER and Hold Harmless
Disclaimer: LSDS™ gathers information from multiple sources and offers insight and perspective to travelers. Sources cannot be validated for accuracy in every instance. Travelers assume all risk associated with their travel and are responsible for the decisions associated with travel and for their own safety. Users of this reference document agree, to hold harmless LSDS™ (LLC) its employees and clients associated with any risk or injury incurred during travel.