Heat in the Atlantic Ocean. Temperatures may herald upcoming hurricanes
AccuWeather's weather phenomenon experts are highly concerned about these unusual ocean temperature trends for this time of the year. They expect an exceptionally active upcoming hurricane season due to this anomaly.
8:44 AM EST, February 26, 2024
"Although the Atlantic hurricane season officially begins only on June 1, there are already serious and growing concerns about the upcoming season," warns Accuweather's chief meteorologist, Jonathan Porter.
July-like water temperature in february
Sea surface temperature largely determines hurricane activity. For a tropical formation to occur, the water must register at least 78.8 degrees F. However, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico are already heated to a staggering 80.6-82.4 degrees F. These are temperatures typically seen in mid-July.
In recent years, the first hurricanes have formed before the traditional start of the season. Experts warn this year might not stray from this trend due to the higher than usual Atlantic Ocean temperature and the shift from El Nino to La Nina weather anomalies.
Weather Anomaly
La Nina is a weather anomaly causing the temperature of the Pacific Ocean's surface near the equator to drop below average. This drop is influenced by the escalated activity of trade winds, which bring cold, deep waters to the surface. Owing to the complex interplay between the ocean and atmosphere changes the position of the jet stream, affecting global weather patterns.
If this anomaly continues into spring, it will be a strong indicator of a highly active hurricane season. This translates into not only an increased number of hurricanes but also a surge in their destructive power.
Atmospheric phenomena analysts warn that the areas most susceptible to early hurricane hits will be the coast near the Persian Gulf and the Atlantic coast in the Texas region.
AccuWeather will publish a comprehensive forecast for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season in March.
Source: AccuWeather
