NOAA Predicts Near Average 2019 Hurricane Season

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration held a press conference at Reagan National Airport on Thursday to announce it’s predictions for the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center says El Nino and warmer than average Atlantic Ocean temperatures will shape this season’s storm intensity. Forecasters predict a range of 9 to 15 named storms, of which 4 to 8 could become hurricanes, with 2 to 4 becoming major hurricanes. NOAA says they have 70 percent confidence in these ranges. An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, of which 6 become hurricanes, and 3 become major hurricanes.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said “NOAA is leveraging cutting-edge tools to help secure Americans against the threat posed by hurricanes and tropical cyclones.” Acting NOAA Administrator Dr. Neil Jacobs said “New satellite data and other upgrades to products and services from NOAA enable a more Weather-Ready Nation by providing the public and decision makers with the information needed to take action before, during and after a hurricane.”

On Delmarva, we have seen landfall by 5 hurricanes since 2000, with impacts from storms like Hurricane Sandy, which did not make direct landfall on the Peninsula. According to NOAA’s historical hurricane track, the last Hurricane to make landfall on Delmarva was Hurricane Andrea in 2013.

So far, one named storm has already formed for the 2019 season, which doesn’t officially start until June 1. Tropical Storm Andrea (unrelated to the previously mentioned storm) formed earlier this week.

2019 Atlantic Hurricane Names:

• Andrea
• Barry
• Chantal
• Dorian
• Erin
• Fernand
• Gabrielle
• Humberto
• Imelda
• Jerry
• Lorenzo
• Melissa
• Nestor
• Olga
• Pablo
• Rebekah
• Sebastien
• Tanya
• Van
• Wendy