BY: WEATHER TEAM | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2022 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Depending on when you read this article, it’s over or it’s about to be over. The 2022 hurricane season draws to a close as December gets underway.
There were 14 named storms of which eight became hurricanes and two intensified into major hurricanes — with winds reaching 111 mph or greater. Amazingly, an “average” hurricane season has 14 named storms, with seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
If you look back to the beginning of the season, the prediction was rather close. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted 14-21 named storms, with 6-10 becoming hurricanes, and 3 to 6 becoming major hurricanes. NOAA said it had a 70 percent level of confidence in its prediction which it issued in May.
There were at least two abnormalities, however. First, the pause from early June to August generated angst as NOAA didn’t downgrade its forecast despite the fact that nothing was happening. It turns out NOAA was correct. The silence was broken as August opened the gates to a very active second half of the season. The other abnormality: Hurricane Ian. While strong hurricanes were definitely in the forecast, no one expected a Category 4 that would become the deadliest in Florida since 1935.
Expect predictions for 2023 in just a few months. The Atlantic Hurricane Season starts again in June.
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