We previously covered the lack of Atlantic hurricane activity last week at Climate Realism with ‘Hurricane Season Slowest Start in 30 Years’ – Media Spins ‘Damage Control’ Stories.’
Now, with August ending, and with no named storms in the Atlantic, according to records, this is the first August since 1997 to not feature any named tropical storms or hurricanes and only the 18th time on record going back to 1851. [bold, links added]
This graphic from the National Hurricane Center shows that the only activity is some areas of rain and thunderstorms that “may” go on to be tropical storms.
Data shows that globally, hurricane counts have remained unchanged since 1980. The year 2021 featured the fewest in that record.
Further showing a lack of activity, we are now just one day away from having the lowest year-to-date Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index in the North Atlantic Ocean basin since 1941.
The Associated Press seemed to think the worst is yet to come and had this to say in Calm before storms? Oddly quiet Atlantic despite forecasts:
A record-tying inactive August is drawing to a close and no storms have formed, even though it is peak hurricane season and all experts’ pre-season forecasts warned of an above-normal season. Nearly all the factors that meteorologists look for in a busy season are there.
Warm ocean water for fuel? Check.
Not a lot of wind shear that decapitates storms? Check.
La Nina, the natural cooling of the central Pacific that changes weather patterns worldwide and increases Atlantic storm activity? Check.
Yet zero storms formed. Surprised experts point to unusual persistent dry air and a few other factors. But each time they and computer simulations think something is brewing, nothing comes of it.
Despite what the Associated Press says, hurricane expert Dr. Ryan Maue says the reason for such low activity is the upper-level winds:
Ocean water is not the problem; plenty warm.
But, wind shear due to pesky TUTTs or upper level troughs continues to wreck the Atlantic main development region.
+ dry air pic.twitter.com/wG8nd0byDc
— Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) August 29, 2022
Dr. Philip Klotzbach of Colorado State University summed up the failure of earlier forecasts claiming an “above normal hurricane season” in the Atlantic.
As I’ve said before, forecasting the weather and climate keeps you humble! The anemic Atlantic #hurricane response may also be due to 3rd year La Nina. Very small sample size to do much with this, but dynamical models didn’t see this as an issue, as they forecast a busy season.
— Philip Klotzbach (@philklotzbach) August 30, 2022
If only the media could be so humble. Up until a few days ago, they were still insisting that hurricane season will be busy.
You can bet though as soon as the first named storm happens, they’ll be back to blaming it on climate change.
Read more at Climate Realism
Ryan Maue seems to think the lack of hurricane activity is a “problem”, presumably because it inconveniently fails to fit the climate change and extreme weather narrative.
There must be over a hundred million people relieved by this calm, except for a bunch of experts. Bruised egos galore. Tornado season hit the brakes early. How are you going to sell commercials when weather disasters are fewer and farther between? Rerun old footage. Morbid.
They get it wrong because they never figure the upper air jet stream and do not know what causes it to change patterns as it does.