Farmers in the Southeast and along the East Coast know all too well how an active hurricane season can damage crop production on their farm. And while forecasters don’t think the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season will compete with 2020’s historic level of storms, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expects the 2021 hurricane season to be more active than normal.
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center’s annual Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook released this month shows the agency predicts another above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. NOAA’s outlook points to a 60% chance of an above-normal season, and only a 10% chance of a below-normal season. That leaves their forecast at a 30% chance the U.S. will see a near-normal hurricane season this year.
NOAA forecasters are predicting the U.S. will see 13 to 20 named storms with 6 to 10 of those posing the risk to become hurricanes. NOAA also forecasts 3 to 5 major hurricanes, which would reach 111 mph winds or higher, and become category 3, 5 or 5 hurricanes.
The hurricane season typically extends from June 1 through November 30, but forecasters are already watching a weather system in the north Atlantic. NOAA experts say that system has a medium chance of developing into something stronger. If it does, the storm will be named Ana.
