Alright, so get this: Hurricane Helene is doing a number on the U.S. East Coast as of Sept.26, 2024. And who’s the star of the show in capturing this intense moment? None other than a composite image from GOES-East and the JPSS Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite. Talk about a dynamic duo!
Now, let’s fast forward a bit. The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is out here making predictions for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. They’re saying there’s a 60 percent chance it’s going to be “above normal,” a 30 percent chance it’ll be near normal, and a 10 percent chance it’ll be below normal. Basically, it’s like they’re playing a game of meteorological roulette.
NOAA is calling for 13 to 19 named storms with winds of 39 miles per hour or higher. Out of those, we could see six to 10 hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or higher, including three to six major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph and up. It’s all about those warm ocean temperatures, ENSO-neutral conditions, weak wind shears, and the West African Monsoon. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, if you ask me.
And hey, let’s not forget about the workforce over at NOAA. Apparently, they’ve had some cutbacks, leaving them with about 10,000 folks instead of the usual 12,000. That’s like trying to run a marathon with one leg tied behind your back. Not a great situation, especially when you’re dealing with hurricanes left and right. Let’s just hope they can keep up with the demand because, well, the storms won’t wait for anyone.
