{"id":97137,"date":"2019-05-22T15:29:38","date_gmt":"2019-05-23T01:29:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=97137"},"modified":"2020-01-09T16:18:42","modified_gmt":"2020-01-10T02:18:42","slug":"2019-hurricane-forecast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2019\/05\/22\/2019-hurricane-forecast\/","title":{"rendered":"Forecasters predict busy 2019 hurricane season"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Hurricane Lane 2018 (Image: NOAA<\/abbr>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The National Weather Service Honolulu Forecast Office today released its annual forecast for the upcoming hurricane season<\/a> and now is the time to start preparing for the upcoming months.<\/p>\n

Forecasters predict this season will have a 70 percent chance of being a higher than normal season with the likelihood of five to eight tropical cyclones in the Central Pacific. These include tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes. <\/p>\n

“This outlook reflects the forecast for El Niño to likely continue through the hurricane season. Also, ocean temperatures in the main hurricane formation region are expected to remain above-average, and vertical wind shear is predicted to be weaker-than-average,” said Gerry Bell, NOAA<\/abbr>\u2019s lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at the Climate Prediction Center, which collaborated on this outlook. Bell added, “All of these conditions point to an above-normal season.”<\/p>\n

Hurricane season in Hawaiʻi<\/span> occurs roughly between June 1 and November 30.<\/p>\n

Last year, Hurricane Lane dumped up to 50 inches of rain and caused damage to parts of Hawaiʻi<\/span> Island and Maui. University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> campuses were forced to close.<\/p>\n

“As we prepare for another active hurricane season in the central Pacific, we urge everyone to have an emergency plan now, so that you are ready for the devastating impacts that a tropical cyclone could bring to the State of Hawaiʻi<\/span>,” said Chris Brenchley, director of NOAA<\/abbr>\u2019s Central Pacific Hurricane Center. “It is essential that you know where and how to get official information, even in the event of a power failure, and that you have your emergency supply kit ready well before any storms threaten.”<\/p>\n

The Hawaiʻi<\/span> Emergency Management Agency has great tips and resources:<\/p>\n