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A rare weather phenomenon developing in the Atlantic Ocean could help put the brakes on this year’s hurricane season — even as a powerful El Niño churns in the Pacific, experts say.
Meteorologists are closely watching the emergence of an Atlantic Niña, an uncommon cooling of sea-surface temperatures in the equatorial Atlantic that can create conditions hostile to hurricane development.
“For Atlantic Niña, that typically produces less tropical activity for the Atlantic season. It produces a more hostile environment for tropical development,” Accuweather meteorologist Alan Reppert told The Post.
A rare Atlantic Niña is cooling temps ahead of hurricane season the El Niño in the Pacific rages into the record books. drew – stock.adobe.com The developing Atlantic Niña has sent sea temperatures plunging 2-5 degrees Fahrenheit from their average.
If the cooling continues, this would be only the sixth summer Atlantic Niña in the last 40 years of data, according to analysis from Severe Weather Europe.
Meanwhile, a Super El Niño has been warming ocean temperatures in the Pacific since June and is projected to be the largest one in at least 150 years, according to Nature.
Peak temps in the Pacific Ocean are currently 3-4 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, according to National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration data.
Though the Atlantic Niña will weaken the storm season, meteorologists warn just one bad storm can define a whole year. Tryfonov – stock.adobe.com Studies suggest Atlantic Niñas are associated with about 50% fewer tropical cyclones than normal, including fewer storms that make landfall in the US.
“We expect 11-16 storms, 4-7 hurricanes and 2-4 major hurricanes,” said Reppert. “Of those, 3-5 US impacts are expected. The highest risk areas for the additional impacts include the eastern Gulf of America coastline and coastal North and South Carolina.
“The El Niño typically has a greater impact on the tropical Atlantic season than Atlantic Nina,” he added.
“The next few weeks appear to be pretty quiet with limited chance for development, especially for the beaches along the Northeast US coastline,” Reppert said.
“But, if a storm develops and moves through a highly populated area or forms and moves just right, it can be a big season with just one storm.”
