There continues to be very little tropical activity in the Gulf, but because it’s been so quiet, sea surface water temperatures are two-degrees hotter than normal. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says that could spell trouble if a storm threatens Louisiana.
“And that may not sound like a lot, but when you’re talking about warming the entire surface of the Gulf of Mexico by an extra two-degrees Fahrenheit, it’s a big deal. And in the hurricane world, it’s a really big deal,” Keim said.
Keim says hot sea surface temperatures can produce rapid intensification.
“We’ve been lucky up to this point. We’re almost to the midpoint in the hurricane season. There’s really nothing that we’re concerned about for about the next week. That could change very quickly. But if something does get in the Gulf, we have a lot to worry about,” Keim said.
Keim says the average sea surface temperature in the Gulf is 85-degrees, but because of little activity, the Gulf of America has been able to warm up to 87-degrees.
“We’re vulnerable again, but fortunately so far, the season’s been pretty quiet in the Gulf,” Keim noted.
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