COLUMBIA, South Carolina — As South Carolina prepares for the upcoming hurricane season, we find ourselves on alert even before the official start on June 1.
One factor is warm ocean waters along the South Carolina coast. Warm sea surface temperatures can provide the energy necessary for tropical systems to form.
We are still in a neutral phase, but NOAA has predicted a 62% chance that El Nino will develop this summer. In the off-season, these climate patterns can change oceanic conditions in a way that help the development of tropical storms or hurricanes.
Current patterns have influenced NOAA's recent prediction of a near-normal Atlantic hurricane season in 2023.
A near-normal hurricane season would mean we could expect a total of 12 to 17 named storms, including five to nine hurricanes, with one to four of them potentially becoming major hurricanes. Even during a below-average season, a single storm can have a significant impact.