By Anthony Prassoulis, Information & Advocacy Unit, OCHA ROLAC
What is expected to be yet another above-normal Atlantic hurricane season got off to an early start with the formation of subtropical storm Ana on 22 May. This marks the seventh consecutive year that the first-named storm has formed before the official start of the hurricane season on 1 June.
While this year’s hurricane season is unlikely to match the record-shattering, frenzied pace of 2020, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration projects it will still churn out 13-20 named storms in the Atlantic, with 6-10 of those storms potentially becoming hurricanes, including 3-5 major hurricanes of category 3 strength or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale.