PALM BEACH, Fla. — A recent spate of overly eager tropical cyclones may lead to an earlier start to hurricane season, pushing up the official first day to May 15
NOAA considers starting hurricane season in May February 26, 2021 at 5:50 PM EST - Updated February 26 at 7:15 PM
Forecasters are contemplating moving up the start of hurricane season by a few weeks from June 1 to May 15, according to multiple national reports.
Last year s hurricane season was one for the record books with
30 named storms, including 12 making landfall in the U.S.
Now, a team from the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service will likely discuss the topic this spring, according to a report from the Weather Channel. Many of the May systems are short-lived, hybrid (subtropical) systems that are now being identified because of better monitoring and policy changes that now name subtropical storms, the National Hurricane Center said.
A recent spate of overly eager tropical cyclones may lead to an earlier start to hurricane season, pushing up the official first day to May 15 from the traditional kickoff of June 1 – a date that has been custom for more than five decades.
The jumpstart in dates will be discussed at a World Meteorological Organization meeting next month and could mean daily tropical weather forecasts issued by the National Hurricane Center will begin as early as May 15 this year.
Dennis Feltgen, a meteorologist and spokesman for the NHC, said an official change in the start date would only come after a committee looked at storm data and examined the need and “potential ramifications of moving the beginning of the hurricane season to May 15.” But because the findings would have to be presented at a future WMO meeting for review, the date change is unlikely this year.
Forecasters are considering an earlier start to hurricane season here’s why
Weather officials weighing pros, cons of May 15 start to storm season
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ORLANDO, Fla. – Next month, the World Meteorological Organization will be holding its annual hurricane committee meeting, during which weather officials will review and retire storm names from the 2020 hurricane season, as well as look into the possibility of moving up the hurricane season start date to May 15.
Why change the start date to May 15?
The reason for this possible change in the season’s start date is to clear up confusion for the public. According to the agenda, “most National Weather Service messaging says for the public to get ready by the start of hurricane season (June 1st), but the current season timing is not the most beneficial to preparedness efforts since these early storms can be hazardous”.
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