Above-Average Hurricane Season Predicted for 2022

Above-Average Hurricane Season, Predicted for 2022.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center released its 2022 forecast on May 24.

NOAA states that between 14 and 21 named storms are likely for 2022.

Other weather agencies released similar predictions.

Hurricane seasons in 2021 and 2020 were both record-breaking.

If you go back two years, the 2020 hurricane season broke records across the board and it's the most active season on record with 30 named storms, Rick Spinrad, NOAA Administrator, via CNN.

The 2021 hurricane season, which is the third most active year on record in terms of names of storms brought us 21 named storms with impacts, , Rick Spinrad, NOAA Administrator, via CNN.

... ranging from the Appalachian Mountains all the way to New England, resulting in over $78.5 billion in U.S. damage, Rick Spinrad, NOAA Administrator, via CNN.

We are in an active period.

There are certain ingredients that drive the intensity and the frequency of hurricanes, Rick Spinrad, NOAA Administrator, via CNN.

Among these "ingredients" are La Niña conditions and the Gulf Loop Current.

[Gulf Loop Current is] a 600-foot-deep river of hot Caribbean water that travels between Cancun, Mexico, and western Cuba into the Gulf, Chad Myers, CNN Meteorologist, via CNN.

The current has run more northerly in recent years forcing warmer waters closer to coastlines.

The warm water is simply too deep and the hurricane has an unlimited supply of hot water for intensification, Chad Myers, CNN Meteorologist, via CNN.

Climate and weather experts state that hurricane risk seems to be expanding.

In 2021, [...] Hurricane Ida spanned nine states, demonstrating that anyone can be in the direct path of a hurricane and in danger from the remnants of a storm system, Deanne Criswell, FEMA Administrator, via CNN.

It's important for everyone to understand their risk, Deanne Criswell, FEMA Administrator, via CNN