Tropical storms and hurricanes are known to be destructive and even deadly in low-lying areas of North Carolina from the coast to the rivers and as far inland as Raleigh and Durham.
Every North Carolina resident and visitor should be aware of weather conditions – keep track of what’s coming in the tropics and prepare your home and family for any storm.
Hurricane season officially begins on Saturday, June 1st.
Is there anything in the tropics now?
All is quiet for the time being in the tropics.
“We're not tracking any storms right now,” said WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth. “The reason is we have dry air. We have Saharan dust off the coast of Africa…that's really limiting tropical development. ”
However, if you're headed to the coast this week, you'll want to be careful.
“Much of the North Carolina coast does have a moderate to high risk of rip currents,” Wilmoth said. “Watch those flags and if you see a red flag flying, don't get in the water, it's too dangerous.”
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 each year.
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Since the 1950s, people have begun naming hurricanes to avoid confusion and simplify communication. There are six alphabetical lists of names, each of which is a mix of traditional male and female names, so the same name may be used for different storms that occur years apart.
When a hurricane causes severe or devastating damage, the World Meteorological Organization “retires” or removes the name from the list.
How many hurricanes will North Carolina experience?
Over the past 30 years, the average hurricane season has been:
14 named storms – Tropical storm intensity or above
7 hurricanes – Category 1 to Category 5.
3 major hurricanes – Category 3, 4 or 5 with winds of at least 111 mph. These storms can blow off roofs and level buildings.
NOAA predicts busy hurricane season
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released its Tropical Outlook, predicting that we will see 17 to 25 tropical storms this season.
NOAA expects 8 to 13 hurricanes this season and 4 to 7 major hurricanes of Category 3 or above.
“That said, not necessarily keeping an eye on the numbers, but we expect the active season to go in that direction,” WRAL meteorologist Anthony Baglione said.
La Niña means weaker easterly trade winds and lower than average vertical wind shear. Basically, under La Niña, there are fewer winds disrupting the organization of tropical systems.
Although the 30-year average is 14 named storms, seven of the past 10 years have exceeded that average.
The record was set in 2020, when there were 30 named storms. The same year saw 14 hurricanes and 7 major hurricanes. La Niña conditions also dominated that summer.
North Carolina has never had a Category 5 hurricane make landfall. The most powerful hurricane to make landfall in the state was Hurricane Hazel in 1954, a Category 4 hurricane.
How to prepare for hurricane season
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From late spring through fall, there is always the potential for hurricanes to form in the Atlantic and affect North Carolina. While rough surf and flooding are dangers along the coast, hurricanes can bring torrential downpours, inland flooding, downed trees and even tornadoes to the Triangle.
Worst hurricane in North Carolina history
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