Floridians tend to breathe a huge sigh of relief when one hurricane season ends. For several months things are bliss but that's unfortunately about to change again as hurricane season 2023 is quickly approaching.
The season will start on June 1st. La Niña with its cold waters will be moving out and El Niño will be moving in. Some forecasters are predicting a strong El Niño season in the latter part of 2023.
Other factors that forecasters will be monitoring closely will be the African easterly jet, the Bermuda Azores high and of course the overall sea temperatures in the Atlantic.
And once again, the situation in Florida unfortunately does not look good. With many parts of the state still reeling from damage caused by several previous hurricanes, this year might just add more injury to existing pain.
AccuWeather
According to AccuWeather predictions, hurricane season 2023 will be relatively less active compared to other years on record as far as number of storms. However, hurricane season 2022 was considered less active as well and we still had the treacherous Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole hit Florida.
Hurricane Ian is now considered the third costliest hurricane on record due to the resulting damage and devastation.
And while the season may remain less active in general for many areas in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, which may be great news for Texas and Louisiana, Florida and the Carolinas in particular are expected to be hotspots of activity:
Unfortunately for those in the Sunshine State who are still recovering from those punishing hurricanes, AccuWeather forecasters say the state will once again be at a higher risk than other parts of the country."
Not good news for Florida. Nor is this additional tidbit from AccuWeather:
Recent studies have found that hurricanes are maintaining their strength for longer periods of time after landfall, causing more significant flooding and wind damage farther inland."
All this means that people in the state need to prepare now for what could be another catastrophic hurricane season.
The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel is predicting a 2023 season that includes around fifteen named storms and seven hurricanes, which is about average. Three of the hurricanes are predicted to be Cat 3 or higher. However, there is this small nugget of foreboding:
The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season has more uncertainty than usual due to a couple of key factors, according to a just-released outlook."
This is due to uncertainties of what El Niño will do combined with overall warm water temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean, which could prove to have a powerful impact in enhancing the storm season.
Like the prediction from AccuWeather, The Weather Channel too is forecasting a particularly acute impact on the Southeastern part of the U.S.
In closing
Keep in mind that predictions are just that: predictions. In part, they are formed from past storms and storm seasons on record and do not, of course, necessarily reflect what will actually happen.
However, with the way things have gone the last few years in Florida, it's crucial to prepare for the worst now. Preparation is the one thing that all forecasters universally advise for people who live in areas vulnerable to hurricanes.
There are many online resources to consult in order to help people get ready for the storm season, but just two are:
- "Preparing for the 2023 Hurricane Season" on FloridaDisaster.org, Division of Emergency Management, which includes advice on such things as amassing supplies, preparing homes and personal property and mapping out evacuation routes.
- "The Essential Guide to Hurricane Preparedness" by StateofFlorida.com, which contains general information you may want to consider when it comes to hurricane season.
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