Meteorologists forecast an active hurricane season in Canada
It will be more active than in the last 30 years.
The Canadian Hurricane Centre is predicting an active season again this year. The reason is that ocean temperatures are above average.
"All signs point to activity," meteorologist Bob Robicheaux said at the annual preseason briefing. — "We can say with confidence that the season will not be as active as 2020, but more active than the average of the past 30 years.
In 2020, 30 storms were recorded in Canada and given names. This is an all-time record in the history of observation. On average, 4 named storms per year fall within the response area of the Canadian Hurricane Centre.
Meanwhile, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has also announced a busy season ahead, saying there could be 13 to 20 named storms this year, including six to 10 hurricanes and three to five strong hurricanes that produce sustained winds of 177 km/h.
"Hurricanes take heat from the water and transfer it into the atmosphere to balance the ocean temperature," Robichaud explained. — When the Atlantic Ocean temperature is higher than average ... that's one of the driving forces for a hurricane.
The atmospheric phenomenon known as El Niño, a temperature fluctuation in the Pacific Ocean that causes climate change, could also play a role, he said. Surface water temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean have dropped, and this could provoke more storms over the Atlantic Ocean.
Last year, storm Isaias caused heavy rains and power outages in the southeastern province of Quebec, and storm Teddy triggered massive power outages in Nova Scotia.
The 2019 season was also an active one. The list of major hurricanes for that year includes Hurricane Dorian, which knocked out power plants in Canada's coastal provinces, leaving more than 500,000 homes and businesses without power and causing an estimated $140 million CAD in damage.
