The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season is predicted to be more active than usual, according to research from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Colorado State University’s Department of Atmospheric Science and North Carolina State University.

Published 4 years ago

Following one of the most active hurricane seasons on record in 2020, researchers around the United States are predicting between 14 to 18 named storms and up to eight hurricanes for the 2021 Atlantic season.

In the 2020 hurricane season there were 30 named storms and 13 hurricanes, including six that were considered “major” * (category three and higher).

The Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project led by Dr. Phil Klotzbach predicts up to 17 named storms, eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes, while researchers at North Carolina State University are predicting 15 to 18 named storms forming in the Atlantic basin.

NOAA’s Hurricane Centre has slightly fewer predictions but based on updated averages for the Atlantic hurricane season it is predicting 14 named storms and seven hurricanes. The average for major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5) remains unchanged at three. The previous Atlantic storm averages, based on the period from 1981 to 2010, were 12 named storms, six hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.

Beginning with this year’s hurricane season outlooks, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) will use 1991-2020 as the new 30-year period of record.

Even though the Atlantic hurricane season officially starts on June 1, the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) will begin routine issuance of the Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook (TWO) and the Graphical TWO two weeks earlier than usual at 0800 EDT (1200 UTC) on May 15, 2021.

This year, NOAA’s National Weather Service is running a Hurricane Preparedness Week from May 9 – 15 covering topics including Marine Safety.

For those interested in the naming of Hurricanes, see this story from The Weather Channel on the list of names for this year’s Hurricane Season.

  * Note:  A major hurricane is one that is classed as Category 3 or higher (115-plus-mph winds) on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

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Related Links:

• National Weather Service Hurricane Preparedness Week
  
• National Hurricane Center
  
• Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
  

Related News:

• NOAA:  Average Atlantic Hurricane Season to reflect more Storms
  
• Colorado State University:  Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast
  
• North Carolina State University Predictions for 2021 Hurricane Season
  
• Weather.Com – 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season Predictions
  
• Noonsite:  NOAA to start Forecast Service in May
  
• Noonsite:  Busy Atlantic Season Predicted for 2020
  

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Noonsite has not independently verified this information.