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AccuWeather predicts predicts fewer hurricanes for 2019
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The Accuweather Tropical Analog for the 2019 hurricane season tracks density.
The Accuweather Tropical Analog for the 2019 hurricane season tracks density.
Photo: Accuweather
The Accuweather Tropical Analog for the 2019 hurricane season tracks density.
The Accuweather Tropical Analog for the 2019 hurricane season tracks density.
Photo: Accuweather
After an active 2018 hurricane season, thanks largely to Michael and Florence, AccuWeather forecasters are predicting fewer hurricanes in 2019.
“This year, we think that there will be a few less tropical storms and lower numbers in hurricanes,” AccuWeather Atlantic hurricane expert Dan Kottlowski said in a press release Monday.
“But again, the old saying is ‘it only takes one, ‘” he added.
Meteorologists are anticipating a near- to slightly above- normal season with 12 to 14 total storms, Accuweather reported.
Of those storms, it’s estimated that five to seven will become hurricanes, while two to four more will turn into major hurricanes, according to the release.
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Although the majority of the coastal areas have an equal chance of a hurricane hitting this year, Accuweather will be paying close attention to the Southeast coast, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico for development, Kottlowski said in the release.
“Those are the areas that we will monitor very closely not only in June but, because water temperatures are warm, we’ll start looking at them in April and May,” he said.
Regardless of how the season pans out, Kottlowski warns that everyone living along the coast should have a hurricane plan in place.
The 2019 season, which kicks off June 1 and runs through November 30, could be the year you share your moniker with a hurricane.
Potential hurricane names, announced by the National Hurricane Center on Thursday, include:
- Andrea
- Barry
- Chantal
- Dorian
- Erin
- Fernand
- Gabrielle
- Humberto
- Imelda
- Jerry
- Karen
- Lorenzo
- Melissa
- Nestor
- Olga
- Pablo
- Rebekah
- Sebastien
- Tanya
- Van
- Wendy
The names Michael and Florence have now been retired, joining a list of 88 storms in total, according to the Accuweather website.
Marcy de Luna is a digital reporter specializing in social media, the famous, and food. You can follow her on Twitter @MarcydeLuna and Facebook @MarcydeLuna. Read her stories on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | Marcy.deLuna@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message