As many as 10 named storms could hit or severely affect the US by the end of September, AccuWeather forecasters are predicting.
This is due to the fact that sea surface temperatures and ocean heat content, or the depth that warm waters reach beneath the surface, are near or at record-high levels across much of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
As as a result,AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva and the team of AccuWeather meteorologists are forecasting six to 10 named storms from Aug. 27 through Sept. 30. The historic average is six named storms during that time.
“We could see a parade of storms developing during the month of September. There’s a possibility that we could see multiple tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic basin on the same day, similar to the frequency of storms that we’ve seen during other supercharged hurricane seasons like 2020,” said DaSilva. “The statistical peak of the hurricane season is Sept. 10, and we expect the Atlantic basin to be incredibly active.”
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist and Climate Expert Brett Anderson said that impacts from climate change and our warming atmosphere are leading to bigger hurricane season impacts that can affect more people.
“With the climate changing, the lower atmosphere is warming, and warmer air is able to hold more moisture compared to cooler air, which can increase the risk for more extreme precipitation rates in a storm or hurricane,” he said.
“Sea surface temperatures over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, where Debby saw its greatest increase in strength, continue to run near record high levels. The added amount of heat to these waters clearly provided an additional boost of energy for the storm before it made landfall, allowing it to reach category 1 strength. Dry air on the western side of the storm may have prevented Debby from rapidly strengthening into a Category 2 or higher hurricane.”
All this could affect not only the daily lives of people but interrupt travel and the start of the college football and NFL seasons.