WASHINGTON — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting a “Near-Normal 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season.” NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center says to expect between 12-17 named storms, including 5-9 hurricanes and 1-4 major hurricanes packing sustained winds of at least 111 miles per hour in the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico
In 2022, the Atlantic Basin witnessed a fairly normal hurricane season in terms of the number of tropical cyclones (tropical storms with 39-73 mph sustained winds or hurricanes with 74+ mph sustained winds). However, it included the third-costliest U.S. hurricane in history, Hurricane Ian, and an unexpectedly large number of storms toward the end of the season, including a rare November landfall on the U.S. mainland, by Hurricane Nicole. This unusual season came on the heels of above-average hurricane seasons from 2016-2021.
The Public Interest Network (which includes PIRG, Environment America, Frontier Group and state groups in Atlantic Coast and Gulf Coast states such as Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia) is sharing information to help contextualize the major environmental, health and consumer concerns posed by the hurricanes that will inevitably come this season.
Our most recent data and graphics on potential environmental, health and consumer dangers created by hurricanes — and the flooding that follows:
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