The Tropical Meteorology Project at Colorado State University has released its initial forecast for the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season. Forecasters are expecting a relatively typical season in terms of the number of storms and their relative strengths.
Headed by Dr. Phil Klotzbach, the team predicts a total of 13 named storms. Of those, six are expected to become hurricanes and 2 of those major hurricanes of Category 3 or greater.
On average, the Atlantic receives 12 named storms, five of which would be hurricanes and two of those major storms.
Of the storms expected to develop in 2016, the forecasters give a 50% chance that at some point the U.S. coastline will be struck by a major hurricane. Average for the past century was 52%.
The numbers released include Hurricane Alex, a short-lived storm in January that reached Category 1.
Uncertainties for the seasonal forecast center around a weakening El Niño and possible development of La Niña conditions.
The report says, “The big question marks with this season’s predictions are how quickly the El Niño weakens, as well as what the configuration of SSTs [Sea Surface Temperatures] will look like in the tropical and far North Atlantic Ocean during the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season.”
La Niña typically brings less wind shear to the Atlantic allowing storms to form more easily.