NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) has predicted an active 2023 hurricane season, but has hedged its bets, giving Las Vegas odds of a 40% chance of a ‘normal’, with a 30% chance of an ‘above-normal’ 30% chance of a ‘below-normal’ storm season. So, toss a coin.
NOAA predicts a dozen to 17 ‘named’ storms, with 5-9 hurricanes with maximum winds of 74 miles per hour and one to four hurricanes of a category 3 or above, with winds of at least 111 miles per hour. So, toss two coins.
This information was ‘revealed’ on Thursday, May 25, 2023 in Maryland at the NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction and Casino.
Three consecutive years of a ‘La Niña’ weather pattern have resulted in less than normal hurricane activity in the central and eastern Pacific basins, but more in the Atlantic basin.
2022 saw 14 ‘named’ storms, including three that hit the continental United States.
The names Fiona and Ian were both retired after pummeling Puerto Rico, in the case of Fiona, and southeastern Florida, in the case of Ian.
Hurricanes, in 2022, caused billions of dollars in damage. Hurricanes are bad.
