Atlantic hurricane season expected to be more active

Islanders should keep their umbrellas handy as a bit of a "more active" hurricane season is being forecast this year in the Atlantic Ocean.

"An average year, hurricane-wise, is about 12 named storms. That's what we typically get in the Atlantic Ocean in a typical year," Bob Robichaud, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, said Tuesday on CBC News: Compass.

"We're expecting anywhere between 10 and 16 named storms this season."

According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, fourto eight of those storms could become hurricanes. Of those, oneto fourcould be majorwith winds over 178 km/h.

Robichaud said the three storms in the Atlantic since Januaryare included in the average-to-above-average overall prediction. Also, the three to date is higher than the 50-year average, which is between zero and one storms.

From El Nio to La Nia

Last year's El Nio weather conditions contributed to 11 storms. But Robichaud noted this season El Nio is moving to La Nia conditions.

"When we typically get into an El Niocondition, which is an area of warm water in the Pacific [Ocean], we get fewer hurricanes in the Atlantic, and it's a complicated relationship," he explained.

"That El Niois no longer there this year, and we are actually transitioning to the opposite of El Nio, which is called La Nia.When we get into that scenario, we tend to get a few more storms."

Atlantic hurricane season officially began June 1.

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