We have already seen a relatively large amount of activity in the Atlantic prior to the start of summer, according to a recent report from AccuWeather.com. But is the mere fact that we have already seen a “C”-named storm a sign that Florida could experience a particularly intense hurricane season? As most West Central Floridians know, hurricane season begins on June 1 and goes through the end of November, according to a storm season chart from the U.S. State Department. While Tropical Storm Colin did approach Florida after the start of hurricane season, the fact that we have already seen a good amount of tropical weather this year suggests that more storms, including hurricanes, may be in store.
More Storms in May and June Could Mean More Later On
As the AccuWeather.com report explains, we can look at past records from hurricane seasons to learn that “significant activity during May, June, and July often yield[s] near- to above-average numbers of tropical systems for the season.” A report from The Weather Channel on June 6 described the named Tropical Storm Colin and referred to the fact that it was strengthening in the Gulf of Mexico. While the path of the storm ultimately took it farther north in Florida, Gulf Coast cities including Sarasota and Tampa were put on watch, emphasizing that the risk of hurricane damage from a subsequent storm could be possible.
And there is another reason to think that we will see more tropical storms or hurricanes this summer and into August, September, October, and possibly even November: La Niña. Although more tropical weather patterns early on in the season typically result in a higher number of hurricanes in July and August, the presence of La Niña could prove that the highest number of Atlantic storms actually appear later on in the hurricane season.
Impact of La Niña on Florida’s Hurricane Season
We have discussed the potential impact of La Niña before, but it is important to revisit the topic now that hurricane season has officially begun. Even though we have seen a number of named Atlantic storms thus far that are not the direct result of La Niña, the “cooler-than-average waters” that are likely to be produced by La Niña are predicted to result in even more hurricanes during the late summer and early fall months.
According to Dan Kottlowski, a hurricane expert with AccuWeather, “provided La Niña begins to develop late in the summer and strengthens during the autumn, we should see a corresponding uptick in the number of tropical systems in the Atlantic basin.” At the same time, the development of La Niña does not guarantee that the latter part of this year’s hurricane season will be worse than others. As Kottlowski clarified, “it is not like flipping a switch and all of a sudden the Atlantic is buzzing with hurricanes.”
So what are the experts at AccuWeather predicting for this year’s hurricane season? According to the report, Florida residents should expect a “slight above-average season in terms of tropical storms and hurricanes, and the most active season for the Atlantic basin in the past three years.” If you live on the Gulf Coast from Sarasota to north of the Tampa Bay area, you should think carefully about hurricane preparedness.
Contact a Hurricane Damage Attorney in Tampa
If your home does sustain storm or hurricane damage and you have questions about filing a claim, an experienced storm damage attorney in Tampa can help. Contact the Wells Law Group, P.A. to learn more about how we can assist you.
