2014 Atlantic hurricane season was quiet, as predicted
Digital Reporter
Friday, November 28, 2014, 3:26 PM - Back in April, forecasters predicted a quieter-than-usual hurricane season in the Atlantic basin. A preseason forecast released by Colorado State University suggested that nine tropical storms would form with three becoming hurricanes, and only one would turn into a major storm that's Category 3 or higher.
Predictions across the board have been well below the Atlantic basin average of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes each year.
On Monday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released an early recap of the season, which officially ends Sunday.
RELATED: Read about the predictions made in April
"The Atlantic hurricane season will officially end November 30, and will be remembered as a relatively quiet season as was predicted," NOAA says in a statement.
“Fortunately, much of the U.S. coastline was spared this year with only one landfalling hurricane [Arthur] along the East Coast,”
Here's how the Atlantic Basin seasonal outlooks from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center played out against the actual forecast:
|
| Actual | August Outlook | May Outlook |
| Named storms (top winds of 39 mph or higher) | 8 | 7-12 | 8-13 |
| Hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or higher) | 6 | 3-6 | 3-6 |
| Major hurricanes (Category 3, 4, 5; winds of at least 111 mph) | 2 | 0-2 | 1-2 |
Forecasters say a "combination of atmospheric conditions", including strong vertical wind shear, atmospheric stability and drier air across the tropical Atlantic worked to mute this year's activity.
ACTIVE SEASON IN THE PACIFIC
In contrast, the Pacific has seen a lot of active weather this year with 20 named storms. That's the most activity seen in the Pacific since 1992.
Fourteen of the storms became hurricanes and eight turned into major ones.
While major storms are typically associated with damage, Pacific storms Odile and Simon brought needed precipitation to drought-starved portions of the U.S.
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