How Is the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season Shaping up?
April 10, 2020 
Early predictions indicate the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season could serve up another wild weather ride.
Image courtesy of NOAA
While the world continues to cope with COVID-19, meteorologists are keeping an eye down the road at what the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season might bring. According to the extended-range forecast just released by Colorado State University (CSU), folks might want to prepare now for more above-average activity from the tropics.
“Current warm neutral ENSO (El Niño/Southern Oscillation) conditions appear likely to transition to cool neutral ENSO or potentially even weak La Niña conditions by this summer/fall,” Climatologist Phil Klotzbach and colleagues report in their forecast. Historically, neutral or La Niña climate conditions are more conducive for tropical storm development in the Atlantic basin. “Sea surface temperatures averaged across the tropical Atlantic are somewhat above normal.”
Recall a year ago when the Colorado State forecast was predicting a “slightly below normal” hurricane season. The campaign ended up churning out 18 named storms, 6 hurricanes – half of which were major, including record-breaking Hurricane Dorian.
Numbers indicate the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season could continue what has been a tumultuous pattern since 2016.
CSU’s 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast Specs
* Named Storms: 16
* Hurricanes: 8
* Major Hurricanes: 4
In addition, Klotzbach and crew are anticipating an above-average probability for major hurricanes (categories 3-5) making landfall along the continental U.S. coastline and in the Caribbean.
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