Americas: Hurricane seasons begin May 15-June 1

Event

The Pacific Hurricane Season officially began on Tuesday, May 15, in the Americas region. The Atlantic Hurricane Season will begin on June 1. Both seasons officially end on November 30, with a peak in storm activity typically observed between mid-August and mid-October.

Researchers are predicting slightly above-average hurricane seasons for 2018. Regarding the Atlantic region, the US-based Colorado State University predicts 14 named storms (i.e. hurricanes and tropical storms; annual median is 12), seven hurricanes (median is 6.5), and three major hurricanes - i.e. category 3, 4, or 5 - (median is 2.0). For the Pacific region, 16-19 named storms are expected, including eight to 12 hurricanes and four to six major hurricanes; three to five storms are expected to make landfall in Mexico.

As of May 16, a low-pressure system with a 10 percent chance of forming into a cyclone within the coming five days is located over the Gulf of Mexico due south of the Florida panhandle. Regardless of whether or not a cyclone forms, heavy rain is expected over the US states of Florida and Georgia, as well as The Bahamas, over the coming days.

Context

The 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season was marked by a series of highly-destructive storms that struck the Caribbean region and the Gulf of Mexico, devastating a number of regions. According to current forecasts, the 2018 season is expected to be less intense.

Advice

Individuals in hurricane-prone regions are advised to keep updated on storm forecasts via the National Hurricane Center website. In the event of a storm, follow all instructions issued by local authorities.