“Water conditions are very warm and very conducive to strong storms, though we aren’t looking at any specific storms.” But generally, we should more than likely expect storms to form,” he said. “Conditions are not very favorable and as we move forward, time indicates general favorable conditions. “This helps fill gaps in the data sets that we currently have in order to better understand and protect our buildings along the coastline and ecosystems.”Īs we enter the end of the season, Downs noted, we must remain vigilant because things can change in a flash. The purpose was to place giant mobile towers along the coastline that collected research-grade wind speed measurements as the hurricane made landfall. “Dave Nolan partnered with Kurt Hansen, a grad student, on the Florida Coastal Monitoring Program, alongside the University of Florida,” said Wilson. Wilson, who also studies atmospheric science, shared detailed research results from the many partnerships the Rosenstiel School has with other organizations and institutions. So, we are very thankful it stayed out to sea.” “Thankfully, this system never made landfall because it was recorded as the fifth most ACE, or Accumulated Cyclone Energy, in modern history. “Hurricane Sam was a very strong Category 4 hurricane and a very long-lived storm that persisted at very high intensity for a long period of time,” said Lawton, who is studying atmospheric science. The students also reviewed details about what to expect for the remaining months this hurricane season, why the secondary naming list was reformed, and how Miami residents can be prepared as systems can rapidly form across the Atlantic Ocean. Panelists and doctoral students Quinton Lawton, Lev Looney, Alexis Wilson, and Will Downs focused on Hurricanes Grace, Ida, Larry, and Sam, and discussed the data that scientists have been able to gain from them. The mission behind the presentation was to educate the public about the science of hurricanes and share the research done by Rosenstiel School students and faculty members in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, the Hurricane Research Division, the Office of Naval Research, and the U.S. This was just one update shared Wednesday during a webinar hosted by ’Canes on ’Canes, a group of graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. There’s no La Niña so far in 2021, although it could return later in the year.Already, 2021 has seen 20 named storms, with four major hurricanes, and with 55 days remaining, there’s just one name left on the storm list that has not been used. The notable exception is that 2020 was a La Niña year, a phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation weather pattern that can juice up Atlantic hurricane seasons ( SN: 8/21/19). Most of the climate conditions that fostered 2020’s busy season continue into 2021: very warm waters in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, weaker trade winds across the Atlantic and a strong West African monsoon. Instead of 12 named storms and six hurricanes, an average season now has 14 named storms and seven hurricanes. The new “normal” is now based on averages from 1991 to 2020 rather than 1981 to 2010. By comparison, 2020 racked up 31 tropical and sub-tropical cyclones ( SN: 11/10/20).Īn average Atlantic hurricane season is also busier than it used to be, NOAA announced in April. NOAA’s forecast for the Atlantic hurricane season, which lasts from June 1 through November 30, predicts 13 to 20 named storms, with six to 10 of those developing into hurricanes, and three to five into major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a May 20 press conference. Atlantic coast residents shouldn’t let their guard down - 2021 will still be an active year for storms, the U.S. The record-breaking 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is a tough act to follow.
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