NOAA Releases 2014 Atlantic Hurricane Outlook

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released their 2014 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook. The forecast is for near to below normal activity in the Atlantic Basin. A developing El Nino may inhibit tropical development in the Atlantic Basin.

• 8-13 Named Storms
• 3-6 Hurricanes
• 1-2 Major Hurricanes
• Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) range of 40%-100% of the median.

The main driver of this year’s outlook is the anticipated development of El Niño this summer. El Niño causes stronger wind shear, which reduces the number and intensity of tropical storms and hurricanes. El Niño can also strengthen the trade winds and increase the atmospheric stability across the tropical Atlantic, making it more difficult for cloud systems coming off of Africa to intensify into tropical storms. - NOAA press release

The Atlantic Hurricane Season is from June 1 to November 30.