Atlantic Hurricane Season Takes Unexpected Turn with Multiple Systems
MIAMI – The Atlantic hurricane season is entering a chaotic phase, with forecasters scrambling to track multiple tropical systems, including the unusual presence of a hurricane far north in the Atlantic and potential impacts stretching from the Azores to the U.S. East Coast. What was predicted to be a well-above average season is now unfolding in a highly complex and unpredictable manner, prompting warnings for risky surf and rip currents.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is currently monitoring several disturbances. Hurricane Gabrielle, while weakening, continues to generate dangerous swells impacting Bermuda, the U.S.East coast, and Atlantic Canada. Simultaneously, a rare late-season hurricane, Franklin, is churning in the far North Atlantic. Adding to the complexity, a remnant low is forecast to perhaps approach Portugal early next week, potentially impacting Flores Island and Corvo Island in the Azores.
“It’s still a bit too soon to say how it will impact Europe,but it’s possible a remnant low approaches Portugal by early next week,” said Lanza,a forecaster with the NHC.
The NHC warns that swells generated by Gabrielle are expected to produce life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along the East Coast. The National Weather Service in Melbourne, Florida, has issued warnings stating a high risk of life-threatening rip currents and advising against entering the surf.
Hurricane season officially runs from june 1st to November 30th, with the peak typically occurring between mid-August and late October.While a higher number of storms were predicted for the 2024 season due to unusually warm Atlantic water temperatures and the expected weakening of El Niño, the current situation highlights the inherent difficulty in forecasting the precise track and intensity of tropical systems.
