NHC Director: 'Preparedness is Everything'

NOAA report from August 6, 2020 hurricane season names. Since then, Josephine has formed.

 An 'extremely active' hurricane season is expected, with up to 25 named storms possible, according to an NOAA report. 

“This is one of the most active seasonal forecasts that NOAA has produced in its 22-year history of hurricane outlooks. NOAA will continue to provide the best possible science and service to communities across the Nation for the remainder of hurricane season to ensure public readiness and safety,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “We encourage all Americans to do their part by getting prepared, remaining vigilant, and being ready to take action when necessary.”

They now call for 19-25 named storms (winds of 39 mph or greater), of which 7-11 will become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or greater), including 3-6 major hurricanes (winds of 111 mph or greater).

The report finds that the Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index, "a comprehensive measure of the overall hurricane season activity ... which measures the combined intensity and duration of all named storms during the season" is showing that "the likelihood of an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season has increased to 85%". 

“This year, we expect more, stronger, and longer-lived storms than average, and our predicted ACE range extends well above NOAA’s threshold for an extremely active season,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.

National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham said just today that "remember, never compare storms. Every storm is so different. So preparedness is everything."

"Historically, it's water that kills the most people in these tropical storms. So storm surge and that rainfall inland, that's what we gotta protect ourselves from" Ken Graham, NHC Director, said.

He also cautioned that "it's also about the wind, it's also about the tornadoes."

"Having a plan to mitigate those risks, that's how we stay safe together in hurricane season 2020", Graham said.