Monday, April 9, 2018

2018 CSU Atlantic Hurricane Prediction


2018 Atlantic Hurricane Forecast

Forecasters at the Colorado State University are predicting that the 2018 Atlantic basin hurricane season will have slightly above-average activity. The season begins June 1st and continues through November 30th.

Their current (April 5th) forecast predicts above-average probability for major hurricanes making landfall along the United States coastline and in the Caribbean.

It is impossible to precisely predict this season’s hurricane activity in early April.

NOAA won't even make their first prediction until the end of May. So, why does Colorado State University's team of scientists create this forecast? Mainly because the public is curious about predictions based on the current global oceanic and atmospheric conditions. The forecasting team created their predictions using a statistical model based on 29 years worth of data.  This is the 35th year in which the CSU Tropical Meteorology Project has made forecasts of the upcoming season’s Atlantic basin hurricane activity.

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here
According to CSU scientists, "The current weak La Niña event appears likely to transition to neutral ENSO over the next several months, but at this point, we do not anticipate a significant El Niño event this summer/fall. The western tropical Atlantic is anomalously warm right now, while portions of the eastern tropical Atlantic and far North Atlantic are anomalously cool. Consequently, our Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation index is near its long-term average."

Coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season for them, and they need to prepare the same for every season, regardless of how much or how little activity is predicted.

The April forecast calls for 14 named tropical storms with 7  strengthening to hurricane status. Of those hurricanes, 3 are predicted to be a major hurricane (Category 3,4, or 5).

The team forecasts a 63% chance of one major hurricane making landfall on the U.S. coastline (compared to 52% for last century), 39% for U.S. East Coast Including Peninsula Florida (average for last century is 31%), 38% for Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle westward to Brownsville (average for last century is 30%) and a 52% chance for the Caribbean (compared to 42% average for last century).

More reading: Current and Past Forecasts

ATLANTIC BASIN SEASONAL 
HURRICANE FORECAST FOR 2018

Forecast Parameter and 1981-2010
Median (in parentheses)
Issue Date
  5 April 2018
Named Storms (NS) (12.0) 14
Named Storm Days (NSD) (60.1) 70
Hurricanes (H) (6.5)
7
Hurricane Days (HD) (21.3) 30
Major Hurricanes (MH) (2.0)
3
Major Hurricane Days (MHD) (3.9) 7
Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) (92.0) 130
Net Tropical Cyclone Activity (NTC) (103%) 135


Another reason why Colorado State University publishes forecasts is for hurricane preparedness.   We too are publishing this information, along with updates throughout hurricane season, to help protect life and property when danger approaches.

As I've said many times,  the cruise line industry has safety of passengers, crew, and vessels as their number one priority.   The cruise lines work closely with the NHC and other agencies to monitor all sorts of weather conditions, including tropical storms.   The ships may alter courses and cancel ports of call in order to maintain the level of safety for all onboard.  We will keep you posted about any known itinerary changes during hurricane season.   Should your cruise itinerary change due to a tropical storm, don't be upset, but rather thank the Captain and crew for taking you out of harm's way.  Read our blog post 4 Things To Help Plan Vacation in Hurricane Season...

More links and information about tropical storms and other weather conditions can be found in the Weather & Hurricane Zone tabs above.  We will feature several articles during Hurricane Preparedness week once again.   Until then, you can click the link below for last year's series.

Hurricane Preparedness Mini-Series



No comments: