As if the recent tornado and severe weather warnings in western and central Masscahusetts weren’t terrifying enough, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting an overactive hurricane season still to come for the Atlantic. Hurricane season is just around the corner, spanning from June 1 through the end of November.
Massachusetts and all of its New England brethren are no strangers to strange weather, but the NOAA Climate Prediction Center is calling for “a 70 percent likelihood of 13 to 20 named storms, of which 7 to 11 could become hurricanes, including 3 to 6 major hurricanes.”
Boston was lucky to avoid Hurricane Sandy last fall, which was so catastrophic to the eastern seaboard that it caused approximately $75 billion in damage–the second highest of all time–from Florida to New England.
Sandy is still ingrained in the mind of East coasters, having flooded the streets of indomitable New York City and completely washed out the iconic Atlantic City boardwalk.
But what makes 2013 so overzealous compared to hurricane seasons past? According to NOAA,
Three climate factors that strongly control Atlantic hurricane activity are expected to come together to produce an active or extremely active 2013 hurricane season. These are:
- A continuation of the atmospheric climate pattern, which includes a strong west African monsoon, that is responsible for the ongoing era of high activity for Atlantic hurricanes that began in 1995;
- Warmer-than-average water temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea; and
- El Nińo is not expected to develop and suppress hurricane formation.
Unfortunately for Boston, hurricane season coincides with the heart of the Red Sox season who happen to be sitting pretty at 2nd place in the division. Though in 2011 when such inclement atmospheric conditions were afoot, the Bruins took home Lord Stanley in dramatic fashion. Even still, be sure to take the extra precautions when it comes to severe weather. Batten down the hatches and heed to the advice of the National Weather Service and agencies like NOAA for the good of you, your family, and your peers.
