CHARLOTTE,
NC (WBTV) – Predictions continue to come in about this year's hurricane season,
and more forecasters are saying that 2012 will be an average year in terms of
the number of hurricanes and tropical storms in the Atlantic.
AccuWeather
and WSI have joined the ranks of other long-range forecasters including
Colorado State University in predicting a year much quieter than the last
two.
An
average hurricane season in the Atlantic sees the formation of 12 tropical
storms. Of these, 6 become hurricanes,
and 2 ultimately strengthen into major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or
higher.
What's
responsible for the relatively quiet hurricane forecast? El Nino conditions are forecast to return to
the Pacific. El Nino usually leads to an
increase in wind shear in the Atlantic, which can rip developing tropical
systems apart before they ever get started.
Additionally, sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic have cooled,
providing less fuel to energize the storms.
It's
important to note that it only takes one storm to do significant damage. Even though we're far from the coast, a storm
making landfall anywhere in the Carolinas can cause significant flooding and
spawn tornadoes hundreds of miles inland.
Also,
there is still uncertainty in April forecasts.
Predictions are usually modified at the onset of hurricane season, which
begins June 1. The official prediction
from the Climate Prediction Center will be issued about a week before, on May
24.
