NOAA predicts a busy hurricane season in 2020 with the potential of 13 to 19 named storms, six to ten hurricanes, and three to six major hurricanes.
“Warmer ocean temperatures and weaker tradewinds in the Atlantic hurricane development region. They also include, weaker vertical wind sheer and an enhanced west African monsoon,” said NOAA’s lead hurricane season forecaster Doctor Gerry Bell.
Bell says they do not anticipate an El Nino forming, which can suppress hurricane activity.
During the announcement, FEMA activity deputy administrator for resilience Carlos Castillo assured the public that the agency will be able to respond to a hurricane during the coronavirus pandemic and history shows it can.
“In 2018, the agency responded to two major hurricanes on the east coast and the worst wildfires in California history. At the same time, thousands of FEMA employees were still working recovery efforts for the devastating 2017 hurricane season,” said Castillo.
NOAA acting administrator, Doctor Neil Jacobs, says they are also upgrading their weather research and forecast system and other models and also incorporate new data from satellites and radar.
“This will help improve forecasts of hurricane tracking intensity during the critical watch and warning time frame,” said Jacobs.
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