Excerpt:
On Thursday, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration released its 2024 hurricane season outlook. The agency predicts an active season in the Atlantic hurricane region, with its most aggressive May forecast on record. The Atlantic hurricane region includes the north Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.
Below-average hurricane activity is expected in the eastern Pacific hurricane region, which includes the western coast of Mexico. NOAA’s eastern Pacific outlook indicates a 60% chance of below-normal activity, 30% chance of near-normal activity and only a 10% chance of above-normal activity.
In the eastern Pacific basin, NOAA calls for 11 to 17 named storms, or tropical cyclones, which includes hurricanes and tropical storms. Four to nine of these storms are predicted to reach hurricane strength, with one to four reaching major hurricane strength. A normal year averages 15 named storms, eight hurricanes, and four major hurricanes. The eastern Pacific hurricane season officially runs from May 15 to Nov. 30.
Last year, the eastern Pacific hurricane season was extremely active with 17 named storms and 10 hurricanes. Six tropical cyclones made landfall in Mexico, including Hurricane Otis, which rapidly intensified before making landfall near Acapulco, and Tropical Storm Hilary...
