As if the coronavirus isn't enough to worry about, Virginia and other East Coast and Gulf states need to buckle up and prepare for a possibly bumpy hurricane season, scientists say.
Warmer temperatures in the tropical Atlantic could mean an "above average" hurricane season this year, according to predictions by scientists at two universities that track Atlantic storms each year.
Last year saw four storms make landfall on the mainland United States: Barry, Dorian, Imelda and Nestor. The U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands were also affected in 2019 by multiple hurricanes and tropical storms.
One of the most damaging hurricanes to hit Virginia was Hurricane Isabel, 17 years ago, doing nearly $2 billion in damage and knocking out power to nearly two million homes. Hurricanes can bring flooding (Alexandria saw flood waters reach 9.5 feet above sea level that year, in 2003) as well as downed trees and power lines to Northern Virginia.
Colorado State University predicts we'll see four "major" hurricanes this season, which begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30. Major hurricanes are those that rank between a category 3 to 5, with winds clocking at 111-to 157 MPH or higher. In all, the CSU Meteorology Project team is predicting 16 named storms and eight hurricanes in total. The average? It's usually 12 named storms and six hurricanes in all.
Another prediction for 2020, by North Carolina State University, says we'll see even more named storms — 18 to 22 with eight to 11 turning into hurricanes — and of those, three to five becoming major hurricanes.
The Weather Company's (the parent company of The Weather Channel) predictions are somewhat similar, seeing 18 named storms, nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes in 2020.
In addition to unusually warm seawater in the Atlantic Ocean, scientists also cite the development of a weather pattern by El Niña as a reason for the potential uptick in hurricanes this year. The cyclical phenomenon brings cooler waters to the tropical Pacific Ocean and changes wind patterns over the Atlantic that can bring stronger hurricane activity.
Colorado State University warned that it only takes one strong storm to wreak havoc: "Coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season for them, and they need to prepare the same for every season, regardless of how much activity is predicted," CSU warned.
National Hurricane Preparedness Week begins Sunday, May 3. You can also find out how you can prepare for hurricane season on the FEMA website.
Here's a look at the official hurricane names for 2020 (the most popular names for the worst storms begin with the letter "I"):
1. Arthur
2. Bertha
3. Cristobal
4. Dolly
5. Edouard
6. Fay
7. Gonzalo
8. Hanna
9. Isaias
10. Josephine
11. Kyle
12. Laura
13. Marco
14. Nana
15. Omar
16. Paulette
17. Rene
18. Sally
19. Teddy
20. Vicky
21. Wilfred
