(Miami) The Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be extremely “active” and worse than expected, with between 7 to 08 hurricanes, the US meteorological services estimated Thursday.
Posted on August 6 2020 at 17 h 37
France Media Agency
Due to oceanic and atmospheric conditions, “this year we expect stronger and longer than average storms,” explained Gerry Bell, chief hurricane forecaster at the US Ocean Observation Agency and atmospheric (NOAA).
NOAA, which had already warned in May that the Atlantic would have a season 2020 probably “above normal”, thus revised its forecasts to the rise.
The institution, which provided between 13 and 19 storms, now expects the formation of between 19 and 25 tropical depressions, of which 7 in 08 could turn into hurricanes.
Between three to six of them could reach category 3 or more, carrying winds of at least 178 km / h.
“This is one of the most active seasonal forecasts that NOAA has issued in 19 years of existence,” said US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.
The season officially lasts from 1 st June to 30 November, with a peak in August and September. The annual average is six hurricanes, three of which are major.
It has already started, with nine storms, including two hurricanes, which hit the southern United States and the Caribbean.
Tropical storm Isaias thus swept through the Dominican Republic, Haiti and the Bahamas a few days ago before moving up the east coast of the United States, killing at least 9 people in its path, and depriving hundreds of thousands people of electricity.
