The United States and Caribbean could be in for a rougher than average hurricane season, according to a new forecast from Colorado State University.
In a report released Friday researchers predicted an above-average Atlantic hurricane season this year, with the tropical and subtropical Atlantic unusually warm and likely to remain so.
The forecast predicts another 11 named storms through the end of this year’s hurricane season, slightly above the average of 10.5, and eight hurricanes, above the average of 5.5. The probability of a category 3 or above hurricane making landfall on the East Coast for the remainder of the season is 38 percent, up from an average of 31 percent. The probability for Florida is also 38 percent, above an average of 30 percent.
In the Caribbean, the probability of a category 3 or above storm is 51 percent, above an average of 42 percent.
The season has already seen a few tropical storms disrupt travel in the United States and Caribbean. In late June Tropical Storm Cindy forced Carnival Cruise Line to modify two Caribbean itineraries.
In July, Tropical Storm Don cancelled several flights on regional Caribbean airline LIAT. The storm also forced cruise itinerary modifications for Carnival Magic, Carnival Vista, Carnival Fascination and Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas.
Most recently, Tropical Storm Emily caused a number of flight delays at Miami-area airports, although there were no reported cruise itinerary changes.
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