As the Atlantic hurricane season progresses, forecasters at Colorado State University are anticipating a surge in tropical activity for the month of August. With the Atlantic Ocean already near record-warm temperatures, conditions are ripe for storm development.
The forecasters have issued a warning of an 85% chance of above-normal activity from August 6 to 19, citing favorable atmospheric conditions and increased tropical activity in the region where most storms typically form.
The National Hurricane Center is currently monitoring a system in the western Caribbean and southwestern Gulf of Mexico, with a 30% chance of development over the next week. This area is being closely watched for potential tropical storm formation.
Looking at the bigger picture, forecasters have updated their predictions for the entire Atlantic hurricane season, forecasting an 'extremely active' season with a total of 23 named storms, 12 hurricanes, and 6 major hurricanes. The warm Atlantic waters and the presence of a La Niña weather pattern are contributing factors to the expected heightened storm activity.
Typically, tropical activity in the Atlantic tends to escalate in the latter part of August and peak in mid-September. The next two weeks are seen as a precursor to what could be a period of increased storm activity in the coming weeks.
