Hurricane season has officially begun! The season lasts through the summer and fall, ending November 30.
Although Kansas City is not on the coast or near the coastline we still have potential for impacts from a tropical system.
What you should know about hurricanes:
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"Hurricane," "Typhoon," and "Cyclone" all refer to the same storm system but in different regions of the world.
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The biggest impacts for the Midwest are typically heavy, torrential, and potentially flooding rains & some gusty winds.
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The different stages of a tropical system go from a tropical depression (surface circulation with winds less than 39 mph), tropical storm (earns a name with winds between 39-73 mph), and a hurricane (winds exceed 73 mph), which are broken down between Category 1-5 based on the highest winds. Category 3-5 are considered major hurricanes.
Forecasters at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center predict an above normal hurricane season in the Atlantic basin. They say there's a 70 percent likelihood of 11-17 named storms, 5-9 hurricanes, and 2-4 major hurricanes.
On average, a season produces 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes.
To predict how active the hurricane season may be, forecasters looks at large scale weather patterns, which include ENSO (the el nino southern oscillation). This season they are predicting a weak el nino or nonexistent el nino, which will help fuel more tropical systems and allow them to live longer with weak wind shear, i.e. change in wind with height.
Regardless of the season forecast, you must remember that it only takes one storm to make landfall to make a major impact on lives.
Happy hurricane season. We'll update you throughout the season with storms that begin to brew in the Atlantic and may impact your vacation plans either on the coast or in the Caribbean.
