The beginning of 2022’s hurricane season has been quiet, but is that an indication of things to come? While the rest of the country has been reeling from drought, fire, and heat, Florida has been quietly enjoying the summer heat without the threat of hurricanes, or even tropical disturbances. But the experts agree that will change in the coming months.
Initial Forecasts and Current Revisions
The NOAA’s forecast, released in May, called for the Atlantic Hurricane season to be busy. They anticipated 14-21 named storms and 6 -10 hurricanes, with 3 – 5 of those becoming major weather events.
Come August 1st, we’ve only marked Alex, Bonnie, & Colin off the infamous list of named storms. Colin made landfall as a low along the eastern seaboard. Alex and Bonnie did not make landfall in the continental US. Overall, it’s been a quiet season, partly thanks to an influx of Saharan dust.
The NOAA issued a revised forecast in early August. It still decries an active hurricane season. Numbers have been lessened ever so slightly, with named storms being decreased by just one, anticipating 14-20. Hurricane and major hurricane numbers remain the same. Compare that to the average of 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes, 3 of which are major, and the season is still well above average.
“While we are now two months into the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, about 90% of all hurricanes and 95% of major hurricanes in the Atlantic occur after the 1st of August, on average,” said Phil Klotzbach, a research scientist at Colorado State.
What Does It Mean for Floridians
It’s the old adage of being prepared. Have your supplies in stock, don’t let your meds get low, and keep things charged and filled. While we may have had an abnormal summer, lacking regular afternoon storms in some areas and seeing flash flooding in others, this hurricane season isn’t necessarily abnormal. As Floridians, we know Andrew, the first named storm of that season, hit in late August 1992.
Does your home need more than just supplies? If the roof over your head needs some attention, this quiet start may have bought you the time you need. Repairing minor damage, especially damage from hail events, can significantly increase the strength of your roof, meaning it has a far better chance of surviving a storm.
Now is a great time to call a reputable roofer and ask for an inspection; Sunflo will do one for free. It’s also an excellent time to save the phone number of a trusted roofing company that you can call after the storm for a tarp immediately if needed. Finish off the season with the peace of mind in knowing the roof over your head is secure; schedule your free inspection today.
