Intense 2022 Atlantic hurricane season predicted

Colorado State University (CSU) on Thursday released its first forecast for this year's hurricane season, which begins June 1 and runs through November 30.

"We anticipate that the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season will have above-normal activity!" the institution assured.  

The upcoming hurricane season could culminate with 19 tropical storms and nine hurricanes, of which four will be intense. 

"The current weak La Niña conditions seem quite likely to transition to a neutral ENSO by this summer/fall, but significant El Niño probabilities seem unlikely," the report says.

Additionally, "average sea surface temperatures in the eastern and central tropical Atlantic are currently near average, while sea surface temperatures in the Caribbean and subtropical Atlantic are warmer than normal."

Atlantic seasonal #hurricane forecast from @ColoradoStateU calls for above-average season: 19 named storms, 9 hurricanes & 4 major hurricanes. Reasons for above-average forecast include predicted lack of #ElNino and warmer than normal subtropical Atlantichttps://t.co/uauRVHEjql pic.twitter.com/7dzsFjQBN9

— Philip Klotzbach (@philklotzbach) April 7, 2022

"We are forecasting an above-average probability of major hurricane landfall along the U.S. mainland coast and in the Caribbean. As with all hurricane seasons, coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane to make landfall to make it an active season for them. They should prepare the same way for each season, regardless of the activity that is expected," the report warns.

Although the Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1, most storms occur between mid-August and mid-October, meaning that this forecast comes four months before most hurricane activity.

The CSU Department of Atmospheric Sciences said the chances of a major category 3, 4, or 5 hurricane impacting the continental United States this year are 71% (the 100-year average is 52%), reports Telemundo 51.

The chances of an impact on the Atlantic Ocean coast, including the Florida peninsula, is 47% (average 31%), and impacting the Gulf of Mexico coast is 46% (average 30%).

The 2021 hurricane season saw 21 named tropical storms, seven hurricanes, and four were major category hurricanes, making it the third most active season since records have been kept, according to CNN.