Forecasters predict above-average hurricane season

Listen to this article

Today doesn’t mark a joyful holiday season, but June 1 is an important date as it kicks off the hurricane season.

While the number of storms in a hurricane season doesn’t necessarily mean South Carolina will be directly hit, the forecast is still ominous with another active Atlantic season on the horizon.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shared its seasonal Atlantic hurricane forecast last week. While scientists don’t anticipate the historic level of storm activity seen last year, they still predict a 60% chance for an above-normal hurricane season, NOAA said in a news release.

For hurricane season, occurring between June 1 and Nov. 30, those predictions include 13-20 named storms, of which six to 10 could become hurricanes and three to five could become major hurricanes, meaning Category 3, 4 or 5.

An average season consists of 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

“Now is the time for communities along the coastline as well as inland to get prepared for the dangers that hurricanes can bring,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said. “The experts at NOAA are poised to deliver life-saving early warnings and forecasts to communities, which will also help minimize the economic impacts of storms.”

Ben Friedman, acting NOAA administrator, said that while NOAA experts don’t anticipate this season being busier than 2020, “it only takes one storm to devastate a community.”

He added that forecasters at the National Hurricane Center have upgraded computer models, observation techniques and expertise to ensure the delivery of the most accurate and up-to-date news.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell said with the season only days away, now is the time to prepare communities so that they have a fighting chance.