NOAA Lowers Predicted Storm Total for 2018 Hurricane Season
NOAA has lowered its prediction for the number of named storms for this hurricane season. Back in May, government forecasters estimated as many as 16 storms, now they say the 2018 total could be between 9 and 13. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the likelihood of an El Nino during the second half of the season is growing.
"Of course what El Ninos do is create extra wind shear which make hostile conditions for the storms to form," Keim said.
Keim says sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean Sea have also remained much cooler than average.
So far there’s been four named storms and two of them reached hurricane strength. Keim says despite this dialed down long-range forecast, there are more storms to come.