Eye on the Tropics

Busy season! Here are 9 stats for this season, so far

By Irene Sans, WFTV.com

Eye on the Tropics: WFTV Severe Weather Center 9 Meteorologists at Severe Weather Center 9 are always monitoring the tropics

By Irene Sans, WFTV.com

ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s been a busy season so far. The storms started before the hurricane season officially started, and although we’ve had some breaks, it has not really stopped. As August ends, September is when the season peaks. Here are some statistics about this year’s hurricane season:

  1. So far (Through Monday 8/31 afternoon) there have been 13 named storms. Usually by this time of the season would have an average 5 named storms.
  2. The storms beginning with letters, C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M have all set records for the earliest formation in history.
  3. The Atlantic Basin has formed 3 hurricanes, Hanna, Marco, and Laura. All three have entered the Gulf of Mexico.
  4. Hanna, Marco, and Laura made landfall in the U.S. Hanna and Laura as hurricanes, while Marco as a weakening tropical storm.
  5. Marco and Laura left a cold wake over the Gulf of Mexico. Sea surface temperatures are about 1 degree below normal.
  6. The U.S. has had 7 named storms strike this season; Bertha, Cristobal, Fay, Hanna, Isaias, Marco, and Laura. The most Atlantic named storms to make landfall in the continental U.S. by August 31 is 6 in 1886 and 1916.
  7. Through August 29, the Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) for the season was 42. The average through August 29 between 1981 and 2010 is 25.
  8. This season’s forecast calls for 25 named storms, the most a forecast has ever called for.
  9. If we end up with over 21 storms, we would then start using the Greek Alphabet; Alpha, Beta, Delta, etc.

We will continue to monitor the tropics closely and bring you the latest on wftv.com, live on Eyewitness News, and on our free WFTV Weather app.

Happening now: Tropical Depression 15 forms off the North Carolina coast, watching 3 other areas

Nota en español: Se forma la depresión tropical 15, pendientes a 3 otras zonas en el Atlántico

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WFTV WEATHER APP TO RECEIVE ALERTS


Follow our Severe Weather team on Twitter for live updates:

© 2020 © 2020 Cox Media Group

© 2020 Cox Media Group

Most Read