We’re moving
closer to the start of the official 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season. I’ve been
fielding questions as to what I think will occur.
This is long
but it does dive into my current thoughts on how things are looking at this
time.
As is always
the case with my long-range outlooks; if you don’t want to read the analysis
(but you will miss a learning opportunity) you can skip to the verdict at the end.
I will
start with a few basic definitions:
For starters,
a tropical cyclone is the generic name given to low-pressure systems that form
over warm tropical or subtropical seas. When the NHC and I or other forecasters
discuss categories of tropical cyclones we use the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane
Wind Scale. On this scale (which IMO is outdated, but that’s a discussion for
another time) tropical cyclones are rated as follows.
Tropical
Depression: a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained wind speeds less than 39
miles per hour. Also, in order to be classified as a tropical
depression, a tropical disturbance must develop a closed surface circulation
with organized thunderstorms.
Tropical
Storm: a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained wind speeds of at least 39 mph to 73 mph.
When a tropical storm is identified, it formally receives a name. Tropical
cyclones retain their tropical storm status as long as their maximum sustained
winds remain between 39 mph to 73 mph.
Hurricane: a
tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour.
Category 1 hurricanes have sustained winds of 74 to 95 mph; a category 2 has
sustained winds of 96 to 110 mph Once a hurricane’s sustained wind speed
reaches 111 mph it becomes classified as a major hurricane. Category 3 is 111
to 129 mph, Category is 4 130 to 156 mph, and a Category 5 has sustained winds
of 157 mph or greater.
The Atlantic Basin consists of the entire North
Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. An average Atlantic
Basin season has 12 named storms, six hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.
Tropical
Weather Outlooks:
The official
Atlantic hurricane season has been from June 1st to November 30th.
The National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been discussing the idea of
changing the official start date of the Atlantic hurricane season from June 1
to May 15th. For the 2021
season the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has said, they have decided to keep
the start date at June 1st. So far, there has been no final decision
on if the 2022 season will be pushed forward 2 weeks to May 15th. But there is still a change occurring this
season. The NHC has said they will start issuing their normal Tropical Weather
Outlooks on May 15th at 8 am. These outlooks usually don’t happen until June
1st.
Analog years:
These are
the analog years that I’ve chosen; as they seem to match the closest to the
current weather pattern.
1899, 1950, 1956, 1996, 1999, 2003,2004, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2017, 2020
The ones
that I’m placing special emphasis on are 1996, 2003, 2004,2005, 2008, 2012,
2017, and 2020.
Sea
Surface Temperatures (SST):
Hurricanes
thrive on warm sea surface temperatures.
When we
compare the SST from this time last year, to the what they look like right now.
We can see they look similar. But the eastern Atlantic Main Development Region
(MDR) is a bit cooler, and the north Atlantic in general is a bit warmer.
One of the
major determining factors this season, will be how much the Atlantic south of
25 North warms during April, May and June. For the last four seasons the MDR
was below average in SSTs at this time; but it reversed during the Hurricane
Season, resulting in active tropical seasons. I do expect 2021 will see the
same general idea with the MDR warming to above average SST levels during July,
August, and September.
As was the
case last season; the 2021 hurricane season looks to see an active West African
Monsoon, so as was the case last year, we should see some strong tropical waves
move off of Africa.
The El
Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
The Pacific
Ocean has a significant influence on the Atlantic hurricane season.
Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly (SSTA) are generally -0.5°C in Nino 4, -0.3°C in Nino 3.4, 0.1 °C in Nino 3, and 0.9 in Nino 1 + 2 across the Eastern into Central equatorial Pacific. This would indicate we’re still in a technically in a La Nina. But there is warming occurring in region Nino 1 + 2. This would seem to indicate that the La Nina from the Winter, is weakening.
The Climate
Protection Center (CPC) defines ENSO phase anomalies as
El Nino:
characterized by a positive ONI greater than or equal to +0.5ºC.
La Nina:
characterized by a negative ONI less than or equal to -0.5ºC.
By
historical standards, to be classified as a full-fledged El Nino or La Nina
episode, these thresholds must be exceeded for a period of at least 5
consecutive overlapping 3-month seasons.
The new
official CPC/IRI outlook issued earlier this month is similar to these model
forecasts, calling for a 60% chance of La Niña to transition to ENSO neutral in
the Apr-may-Jun timespan. The CPC has a La Nina advisory in effect.
Since late
January, a large area of positive anomalies in the western Pacific has shifted
eastward to around 145˚W at depth. Also, positive subsurface temperature
anomalies from around 25m to the surface have persisted in the far eastern
Pacific Ocean.
Many of the
models are agreeing saying the current La Nina is
going to fade and the summer will feature ENSO neutral conditions. I’m not so
sure of that. I’ve been talking about
the possibility for the current La Nina to try and reestablish itself as we get
closer to the fall. In 2020 we saw what a la Nina hurricane season is capable
of. But many of the analog years I’m
using showed a tendency for a La Nina with some staying power, with some
extending into a 2nd year La Nina.
Atlantic
Multi-Decadal Oscillation (AMO)
The AMO is
an ongoing series of long-duration changes in the sea surface temperature of
the North Atlantic Ocean, with cool and warm phases that may last for 20-50
years.
IMO the AMO
is also a very important teleconnection in long range tropical forecasting. There is some correlation between phases of
the AMO and the frequency of severe hurricane events. This is because it causes
variations in large-scale features over the tropical Atlantic, such as sea
surface temperatures, vertical wind shear, and low-level convergence. the AMO
cycle involves changes in the south-to-north circulation and overturning of
water and heat in the Atlantic Ocean.
In the
negative (cold) phase of the AMO, sea surface temperatures are typically below
normal in the Atlantic MDR, the eastern subtropical Atlantic, and the far North
Atlantic. They are typically near or above normal in the western subtropical
Atlantic.
In the
positive (warm) phase of the AMO, sea surface temperatures are typically above
normal in the Atlantic Main Development Region (MDR), the eastern subtropical
Atlantic, and the far North Atlantic. Sea surface temperatures are typically
below normal or near normal in the western subtropical Atlantic near the United
States East Coast.
The AMO
cycle involves changes in the circulation patterns and overturning of water and
heat in the Atlantic Ocean. This is the same circulation that we think weakens
during ice ages, but in the case of the AMO the changes in circulation are much
more subtle than those of the ice ages. The warm Gulf Stream current off the
east coast of the United States is part of the Atlantic overturning
circulation. The Atlantic Ocean Thermohaline Circulation (THC) is also
something that is impacted by the phase of the AMO. When the overturning circulation decreases,
the North Atlantic temperatures become cooler.
The current
state of the AMO isn’t clear cut, many experts disagree on whether we are in a
positive or negative AMO phase. IMO we’re still in a positive (warm) AMO phase.
During a positive warm phase there isn’t
a real correlation between the AMO and the frequency of tropical storms and category
1 and category 2 hurricanes – But during warm phases of the AMO, the numbers of
tropical storms that mature into severe hurricanes is much greater than during
cool phases, at least twice as many.
Since 1950
the seasons with the most ACE are 2005,1995, 2004, 1950, and 1961 have all
occurred during a positive AMO phase. Also, the five Atlantic hurricane seasons
since 1950 with the least ACE were 1983, 1977, 1972, 1982, and 1994 have all
occurred during a negative AMO phase.
Pacific
Decadal Oscillation (PDO)
The Pacific
Decadal Oscillation (PDO) is a long-lived ENSO-like pattern of Pacific climate
variability. While the two climate oscillations have similar spatial climate fingerprints,
The PDO and ENSO influence sea surface temperatures, sea level pressure, and
surface winds in very similar ways.
While ENSO
is primarily an interannual phenomenon, the PDO is decadal in scale. The PDO
phases can be associated with El Nino or La Nina. The positive phase of the PDO
which has the water surface with warm temperatures in the equatorial Pacific,
can enhance an El Nino episode, amplifying the effects of the latter. This same
phase of the PDO would weaken the La Nina events that would occur during this
period. Similarly, during a negative phase of the PDO, events La Nina would be
rather enhanced, and El Nino events would be weakened.
Currently
we’re in a Negative PDO.
The negative
PDO and La Nina favor increased Atlantic hurricane activity.
The
Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO)
During QBO
negative (easterly) years, tropical cyclones tend to form north of the main
development zone. Tropical Cyclones also
seem to form closer into the CONUS, increasing the likelihood of a landfall. So,
this could counter that idea of the La Nina allowing storms to form father east.
The Madden-Julian
Oscillation (MJO)
The
Madden-Julian Oscillation is a major fluctuation in tropical circulation and
rainfall that moves eastward along the equator, and circles the entire globe. It takes on average 30 to 60 days to complete
that trip around the globe. The pattern typically starts in the Indian Ocean,
it then moves east into the Pacific, and then into the Atlantic.
The MJO has
two phases, one is the enhanced precipitation phase; the other is the
suppressed precipitation phase. that
bisect the planet. Usually, half of the planet will be experiencing increasing trend in rainfall amounts, while
the other half of the planet will experience drier conditions.
Normally,
when the enhanced phase of the MJO pushes into the Gulf of Mexico or the
Atlantic Ocean, tropical activity is more favored due to an increase in rising
air (Convergence) and decreased windshear, which leads to thunderstorm
(Convection) development. So, during this phase, tropical cyclone development
or strengthening is possible. On average Major are up to five times more likely
to develop during the enhanced phase of the MJO, while hurricane formation can
be up to four times as likely.
When the
Atlantic Basin is under the suppressed phase of the MJO. The phase will hinder
tropical development; because of sinking air (divergence) along with increased
windshear. That doesn’t mean there can’t be tropical development, but it makes
it much less likely to see thunderstorm development across the tropical basin.
This will often lead to a multi-week lull in tropical development in the basin.
Phases 1 and
2 are the phases most favorable for Atlantic tropical activity.
The MJO will
end up being a wildcard, as it is unclear as to how it will influence the
Atlantic Hurricane Season.
A little
this and that
There is a
coronation that 2nd year La Nina ends up with tropical cyclones developing
farther east. A negative PDO tends to
lead to stronger tropical cyclones. A
positive Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) tends to lead to increase
tropical activity.
Accumulated
Cyclone Energy (ACE):
Ace is used
to measure the intensity of a hurricane season as well as individual tropical cyclones. The higher the number the
more active the season and the danger level during the season and the greater
the damage potential of individual storms.
Based on
what I see right now, I’m thinking this year’s Atlantic ACE will be between
150- 200.
Here is a chart that shows how ACE values generally corresponds with tropical cyclone activity.
1933 is the record holder
with an ACE of 258.57 that season saw 20 named storms, 2005 comes in 2nd
with an ACE of 250.13 that season saw 28 named storms (which was the record,
until 2021. In spite of the record setting 2021 season, which saw 30 named
storms; 2021 comes in at 10th place in terms of ACE. 2021 ended up
with ACE of 182.22. Why was it so low
but had a record-breaking number of named storms? Many of the storms last season were weak
short lived tropical cyclones; Also, the tendency of the NHC naming storms that
wouldn’t have been named in previous years. The increased number of named
storms is due in part to increased technological methods.
List of
names for the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season:
For 2021 the official list of names will be…
Ana
Bill
Claudette
Danny
Elsa
Fred
Grace
Henri
Ida
Julian
Kate
Larry
Mindy
Nicholas
Odette
Peter
Rose
Sam
Teresa
Victor
Wanda
The supplemental
list of names
Adria
Braylen
Caridad
Deshawn
Emery
Foster
Gemma
Heath
Isla
Jacobus
Kenzie
Lucio
Makayla
Nolan
Orlanda
Pax
Ronin
Sophie
Tayshaun
Viviana
Will
The Verdict:
I am
forecasting an above average tropical season in the Atlantic Basin.
Total named
storms 18-24
Hurricanes
8-15
Major
Hurricanes 4-8
The Landfall
Threat
Any long track tropical cyclones that form in the eastern Atlantic moving west, the turn to the north could come farther east than we saw last year. The analog data does support the idea that a ridge is likely over the Northeast and southeast Canada.
This would
mean North Carolina and South Carolina, along with the Eastern and Central Gulf
Coast (from the Big Bend of Florida over to Louisiana) would be the area of
greatest concern. The Leeward Islands, the Northeast Caribbean, entire Florida
Peninsula, and the Bahamas will also be at a heightened risk. The pattern that looks to develop, would mean
the Northeast and Atlantic Canada will have to be very watchful this
season. Last year we saw the western Caribbean quite
active. For this season I think the active focus will shift north and east of
there. The central and eastern Gulf is likely to be much more active than the
western Gulf.
Right now,
I’m thinking for the CONUS there is a chance of 5-6 landfalling hurricanes. 1-2
of these could be major hurricanes of Category 3,4, or even 5.
Well, that
is it for part 1. I will most likely issue part 2 around mid-April. Then if a part 3 is needed that will be issued
around the middle of May.
Part 2 can be found here
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