Hurricane season may be ‘extremely active,’ NOAA says. What that means with COVID-19
The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be a busy one, and federal officials say evacuation efforts will be complicated by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say there could be between 13 and 19 named storms this year.
“NOAA’s analysis of current and seasonal atmospheric conditions reveals a recipe for an active Atlantic hurricane season this year,” acting NOAA administrator Neil Jacobs said during a call with reporters Wednesday.
Gerry Bell, lead hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, said warm ocean temperatures mean the season will be more active than normal and “possibly extremely active.”
Arthur, the first named storm of 2020, battered North Carolina’s Outer Banks last week before the official June 1 start of hurricane season.
Earlier forecasts for the season, including from AccuWeather and the University of Colorado, agree with NOAA that 2020 will be a busy year for tropical storms and hurricanes.
NOAA forecasts six to 10 hurricanes with sustained winds of at least 74 mph. Of those, NOAA forecasts three to six will become major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher with at least 111 mph sustained winds.
Emergency management officials are preparing for a busy hurricane season while they continue to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
People along the East Coast, especially those in areas that flood during big storms, should start thinking now about how and where they will evacuate, said Carlos Castillo with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
He said evacuees should try to stay at a family member or friend’s house and try to avoid staying in an emergency shelter where cramped quarters could help spread the coronavirus.
“Shelters are meant to keep you safe, not make you comfortable,” Castillo said during the call.
He said hurricane kits this year need some new additions like disinfectant, cleaning supplies and a cloth mask.
“Social distancing and other CDC guidance to keep you safe from COVID-19 may impact the disaster preparedness plan you had in place, including what is in your go-kit, evacuation routes, shelters and more,” Castillo said in the release of the forecast.
