As an above-average hurricane season is predicted, forecasters are warning Atlantic coast residents in the United States and Canada to prepare. In its 2024 forecast released on Thursday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States stated that there is an 85% probability of an above-normal season with 17–25 named storms (defined as storms with sustained winds of at least 62 km/h), eight to 13 hurricanes, and four to seven major storms. Rising ocean temperatures and the likelihood of a La Nina event are two of the contributing reasons. La Niña is the term used to describe the ocean’s surface temperature dropping, which increases precipitation and winds.
Ocean temperatures that are higher than usual and that are rising sooner than usual provide fuel for hurricanes and tropical storms, which increases the likelihood that those storms will form, according to NOAA. La Nina, however, is also likely to contribute to the storm’s development because it frequently lessens high-altitude winds, also known as wind shear. The official hurricane season begins on June 1 and typically lasts from mid-August until mid-October.
As part of its preparations for a busy season, the Canadian Hurricane Centre is also noting that roughly 35 percent of tropical storms that make landfall in Atlantic Canada usually originate in the region. Living along the ocean can expose one to different hazards than living inland, but said that once one is aware of their risks, they can make plans for possible contingencies in case of power outages or blocked highways. He also mentioned how prudent it is to have an emergency kit with nonperishable food and other supplies so that you can survive on your own for up to 72 hours.
The kinds of things you have to start with are knowing your risks and then walking or working through them to try to mitigate those risks. However, it’s important to note that there are a variety of hazards that can accompany storms and that it’s crucial for people to monitor the storm’s path as it may help identify potential areas for coastal flooding. Though people should be wary of more than simply weather-related threats, Noting the potentially catastrophic repercussions that can arise from inappropriate usage of the equipment, Canadians were cautioned to keep their power generators outdoors, away from their houses, and in a well-ventilated place.
