HALIFAX, NS, May 22, 2014 /CNW/ - The Canadian Hurricane Centre (CHC) is encouraging Canadians to prepare for the 2014 hurricane season.
The season officially runs from June through November, when the waters of the Atlantic Ocean are warm enough to produce a tropical cyclone. Typically, hurricanes start to become more of a concern in Canadian waters a bit later in the season; however, the CHC monitors the Atlantic Ocean year-round for any tropical or tropical-like cyclone that could pose a threat to Canada or its waters.
The United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) outlook, released earlier today, predicts 8-13 named storms, 3-6 hurricanes, and 1-2 major hurricanes for this season.
NOAA predicts that the level of hurricane activity in the North Atlantic Ocean this year will be near below-average, due to a relatively high likelihood of El Niño and coller Atlantic Ocean temperatures. Regardless of the overall number of storms forecast for the entire Atlantic Basin, on average the CHC responds to four or five tropical cyclone events each year with one or two of those affecting Canada's land areas, and another two or three threatening our offshore waters.
Quick Facts
- Environment Canada encourages Canadians to prepare for the hurricane season by:
- assembling emergency kits and readying their homes and their property; and
- following Environment Canada's hurricane bulletins on the internet (www.weather.gc.ca) or through local media.
- Weather systems defined by the term "tropical cyclone" include tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes.
- El Niño conditions are in place when the East Pacific Ocean has warmer than average temperatures, leading to cloud development and increased wind speeds in the upper atmosphere over the tropical Atlantic Ocean. These winds typically suppress hurricane activity.
- Hurricane development depends on a number of factors including water temperatures, the presence or absence of an El Niño, and atmospheric pressure.
Quote
"NOAA is predicting that this year will see near to below-average levels of hurricane activity in the North Atlantic Ocean. However, we're also reminding Canadians that there is very little correlation between the number of storms that form in the North Atlantic and the number that make their way into Canadian waters. It only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it a bad season. That's why we're reminding Canadians that it's time to start preparing for hurricane season."
- Chris Fogarty, Canadian Hurricane Centre Program Supervisor
Related Product
2013 Season Summary Backgrounder
Associated Links
For more information and to view a backgrounder on this announcement, please visit the Web site of Environment Canada.
For more information on preparing for hurricanes visit http://www.getprepared.ca/.
SOURCE: Environment Canada
Ted Laking
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441
Media Relations
Environment Canada
819-934-8008
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