The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has updated the 30-year averages for named storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic basin. The new averages are derived from the 1991 – 2020 seasons. Previously, meteorologists used the years 1981 – 2010. From the period of 1981 – 2010, the averages were 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.
NOAA says the increase in averages may be attributed to better technology, warming oceans and climate change. “These updated averages better reflect our collective experience of the past 10 years, which included some very active hurricane seasons,” said Matt Rosencrans, seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. NOAA releases updated statistics once every decade.
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