National Hurricane Center Monitors Two Disturbances in the Atlantic Ocean

By  //  June 23, 2021

hurricane season began on June 1

National Hurricane Center is monitoring two disturbances in the Atlantic on Wednesday. (NHC Image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – National Hurricane Center is monitoring two disturbances in the Atlantic on Wednesday.

One of the disturbances is a strong tropical wave is expected to emerge off the coast of Africa overnight and on Thursday.

Experts say some development of this system is possible late this week and into early next week while it moves westward to west-northwestward at about 15 mph across the tropical eastern and central Atlantic Ocean, where ocean temperatures are only marginally conducive for tropical cyclone formation.

As of Wednesday night, the disturbance has a 30-percent to develop further over in the next five days.

The second disturbance is a few hundred miles east of Barbados.

The system currently has rain showers and thunderstorm activity that has increased a little bit during the past several hours. It is expected to move near a small area of low pressure. However, upper level winds are expected to diminish the system in the next few days.

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is predicting another above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. Forecasters predict a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season, and a 10% chance of a below-normal season.

However, experts do not anticipate the historic level of storm activity seen in 2020.

For 2021, a likely range of 13 to 20 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 5 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher) is expected.

NOAA provides these ranges with a 70% confidence.

The Atlantic hurricane season extends from June 1 through November 30.