This year’s Atlantic hurricane season officially ended Nov. 30 after producing eight hurricanes.
The season produced 14 named storms. Two of the hurricanes were considered major, according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration news release issued Nov. 29.
“I commend NOAA’s dedicated scientists, hurricane hunter pilots and forecasters who worked diligently to help American communities become hurricane resilient and climate-ready for the impacts of this hurricane season and the years to come,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said, according to the release.
Though the season is over, the damages left by these hurricanes will be felt for long in places like Florida and Puerto Rico, the release reported.
Matthew Rosencrans, lead hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center said the seasonal activity was within predicted ranges by NOAA for named storms and hurricanes. This was true for NOAA’s pre-season outlook and updated outlook, according to the release.
“La Niña conditions stayed robust," he said, adding that those conditions and the West African Monsoon being only slightly above normal aligned with conditions the NOAA team anticipated.
The National Weather Service and its National Hurricane Center’s forecasters made forecasts earlier and with increasing accuracy, NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said, the release reported. Along with critical NOAA data and services, earlier forecasts with increasing accuracy “undoubtedly led to the better protection of life and property,” he said.
