US forecasts ‘near-normal’ hurricane season

MIAMI, May 27, 2016 – The coming Atlantic hurricane season is forecast to be ”near-normal,” after three years of unusually low storm activity due in part to the El Nino ocean warming trend, US government scientists said Friday. Expect about 10 to 16 tropical storms, of which four to eight could become hurricanes, said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center. Logo photo courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org   One to four could become major hurricanes of Category Three or higher. The 2016 season ”will most likely be near-normal,” said a statement from the federal agency that nevertheless acknowledged some ”uncertainty” in the forecast. ”This is a more challenging hurricane season outlook than most because it’s difficult to determine whether there will be reinforcing or competing climate influences on tropical storm development,” said Gerry Bell, lead seasonal hurricane forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. ”However, a near-normal prediction for [...]