CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Helene is expected to make landfall this week in what has been a slower than expected hurricane season.
For the last 40 years, Colorado State University has predicted how many storms it expects each year. But so far in 2024, predictions have been off.
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Federal officials warned this Atlantic hurricane season would be record-breaking, with up to 25 named storms. But so far, there have only been six.
Above-average water temperatures led researchers to predict a record-breaking season. However, as the Wall Street Journal reports, monsoon winds caused this year's Atlantic storms to start further north than normal, which means they passed over cooler waters and had less fuel to grow.
Experts believed we were on track when Hurricane Beryl became the earliest Category 5 storm back in July. But after that, the Atlantic stayed relatively quiet.
The long break in named storms between hurricane Francine and Ernesto is a rare occurrence. In fact, it's the longest break since 1968.
Even though hurricane activity is lower than expected, experts urge people to stay prepared. Hurricane season isn't over until Nov. 30.
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