- The 2022 Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30.
- The federal government expects yet another active Atlantic hurricane season this year.
- The time to prepare for a hurricane is now, when you have the time and are not under pressure from an approaching storm.
Buckle up.
The six-month Atlantic hurricane season begins today, June 1. And there’s already a potential storm brewing to start the season, forecasters say.
The system is expected to develop near southeastern Mexico and western Cuba over the next few days, and AccuWeather meteorologists say there is a risk that the tropical feature could approach Florida and the Bahamas over the weekend and early next week.
If it becomes a named tropical storm, it would be Alex. Beyond that, the next storm name is Bonnie, followed by Colin, Danielle and Earl.
The 2022 Atlantic hurricane season ends Nov. 30.
The eastern Pacific hurricane season officially began May 15, and one storm has already formed: Hurricane Agatha, which crashed into southern Mexico on Monday as a Category 2 hurricane with 105 mph winds. The storm made history as the strongest hurricane ever recorded to come ashore in May during the eastern Pacific hurricane season.
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What’s the 2022 hurricane forecast?
The federal government expects yet another active Atlantic hurricane season: As many as 10 hurricanes could form, forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said last month.
An average season sees seven hurricanes.
Meteorologists from Colorado State Universityamong the nation’s top hurricane forecasters, has predicted nine hurricanes would form this year.
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The Weather Channel and AccuWeather also predicted a busier-than-usual hurricane season.
If predictions prove accurate, this would be the seventh consecutive season with above-average activity.
NOAA HURRICANE FORECAST 2022:Up to 21 named storms possible; as many as 10 hurricanes could form
What should you do to prepare?
the National Weather Service said the time to prepare for a hurricane is now, when you have the time and are not under pressure from an approaching storm. Here are a few tips on getting in gear for the season:
First, find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation zone. If you do, plan where you would go and how you would get there.
You’re going to need supplies, not just to get through the storm but for the potentially lengthy aftermath. Have enough nonperishable food, water and medicine to last each person in your family a minimum of three days. Electricity and water could be out for at least that long. You’ll need extra cash, a battery-powered radio and flashlights. You may need a portable crank or solar-powered USB charger for your cellphones.
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Call your insurance company or agent and ask for an insurance checkup to make sure you have enough homeowners insurance to repair or even replace your home. Don’t forget coverage for your car or boat. Remember, standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding.
If you plan to ride out the storm in your home, make sure it is in good repair and up to local hurricane building code specifications. Many retrofits are not as costly or time-consuming as you may think. Have the proper plywood, steel or aluminum panels to board up the windows and doors.
How many hurricanes were there in 2021?
Last year was yet another severe hurricane seasona season that saw 21 named tropical storms and hurricanes.
This was the third-most for any hurricane season, behind only 2020’s record of 30 storms and the 28 storms that formed in 2005. A typical season sees 14 named storms.
And for the second year in a row, the entire list of names for the season was used up, from Tropical Storm Ana in May to Tropical Storm Wanda in November.
It was also a record sixth consecutive year of above-normal activity.
Hurricane Ida was the most memorable storm of 2021. In all, Ida killed 91 people in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NOAA estimated Ida inflicted just under $65 billion in damage. That’s the fifth-costliest tropical cyclone in US history behind only Katrina, Harvey, Maria and Sandy, according to Weather.co
Contributing: The Associated Press
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George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism