Tag Archives: 2010 Hurricane Season

Natural Disasters

2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season as Active as Predicted but U.S. Dodges the Bullet

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2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season Track Map
Track map of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season shows how lucky the U.S. was. Click image for larger version. (NOAA)

Virtually every forecaster predicted an extremely active 2010 hurricane season and they were proven right.  Mercifully however the United States was spared the worst as not one storm made landfall in the U.S.

In all, there were 19 named storms in 2010 which ties 1887 and 1995 for the third most on record.  Of those 19, 12 became hurricanes tying 1968 for the second highest on record.  Five became major hurricanes of Category 3 or greater.  On average the Atlantic sees 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes. 

  • Watch: Scroll down to see video of the 2010 hurricane season as captured by NOAA satellites

Other notable statistics from the season include three periods when there were three named storms occurring at the same time.   On August 30, Hurricane Earl, Hurricane Danielle and Tropical Storm Fiona were all churning.  Two days later it was Tropical Storm Gaston, Tropical Storm Fiona and Hurricane Earl.  Finally on September 14 we saw Hurricane Karl, Hurricane Igor and Hurricane Julia all at once. 

For a 36 day period from August 21 to September 26 there was at least one tropical cyclone active in the Atlantic.  A total of 11 storms were active during that period.  September alone saw eight named storms tying the 2002 and 2007 hurricane seasons. 

On average 25% of Atlantic hurricanes make landfall in the United States.  Given how active the season was, it is that much more remarkable that the U.S. was spared. 

Other places along the Atlantic were not so lucky.  In all, 259 deaths were directly attributed to the hurricane season and more than $11 billion in damage was realized.  Tropical Storm Matthew was the deadliest 2010 storm accounting for 126 fatalities in Nicaragua, Belize and Cuba.   

While the Atlantic was active, the eastern Pacific saw the fewest number of named storms and hurricanes since the satellite era began in the mid-1960s.  Only seven named storms developed of which three became hurricanes.  Two of those three became major hurricanes.  For comparison, the North Pacific averages 15 named storms, nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

NOAA Time Lapse Video of the 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season

Natural Disasters

CSU hurricane forecasters warn the worst of hurricane season is yet to come

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Comparison of updated 2010 Atlantic hurricane season forecasts.
Comparison of updated 2010 Atlantic hurricane season forecasts.

Despite what seems like a slow start to the Atlantic hurricane season, forecasters are warning that the worst is yet to come. In updates to their annual predictions released last week, Colorado State University (CSU) forecasters and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are sticking to their earlier forecasts of an above normal level of activity for 2010.

On Wednesday the professional team of Dr. Philip J. Klotzbach and Dr. William M. Gray at CSU said they were sticking with their original prediction of 18 named storms, 10 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher). The pair warns, “We anticipate a well above-average probability of United States and Caribbean major hurricane landfall.”

NOAA updated their annual forecast Thursday saying, “The Atlantic Basin remains on track for an active hurricane season” and that there was a “90% chance of an above normal season.” Warmer than average water temperatures in the Atlantic and Caribbean and low wind shear are expected to help storm generation. The agency did slightly lower its forecast to 14 – 20 named storms, 8 – 12 hurricanes and 4 – 6 major hurricanes.

Only three named storms so far in 2010

Hurricane Alex became a tropical storm on June 26th and a hurricane on the 29th. The storm became a Category 2 hurricane before making landfall in northeastern Mexico.

Tropical Storm Bonnie formed on July 22nd followed by Tropical Storm Colin on July 30th. Colin only survived for 12 hours initially then reconstituted itself late last week only to fall apart as it passed over Bermuda.

The worst is yet to come

Hurricanes can occur at any time of year but the peak period is from August to October. (NOAA)
Hurricanes can occur at any time of year but the peak period is from August to October. (NOAA)

Experts reminded the public that August and September are historically the most active months with the peak occurring during the second week of September. Dr. Gerry Bell of NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center said, “All indications are for considerable activity during the next several months.”

Keeping the public safe and aware is one of the primary purposes of the forecasts and despite the slow start to the season, they warn coastal residents not to be complacent. NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco said, “August heralds the start of the most active phase of the Atlantic hurricane season and with the meteorological factors in place, now is the time for everyone living in hurricane prone areas to be prepared.”

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