Colorado State University updates hurricane season outlook

Calls for an “extremely active” 2024 Atlantic hurricane season
Just over a month into the season, and forecasters with Colorado State University have...
Just over a month into the season, and forecasters with Colorado State University have increased their outlook for the season.(KBTX)
Published: Jul. 9, 2024 at 11:14 AM CDT|Updated: Jul. 10, 2024 at 3:50 PM CDT

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - Forecasters with Colorado State University gave an update to their Atlantic Hurricane Outlook for the 2024 season Tuesday morning.

In Colorado State’s update, scientists have also slightly brought up the numbers of tropical cyclones from the previously issued forecast back in April, that already called for a well-above-average Atlantic Hurricane Season. The forecast now calls for 25 named storms, 12 of which could become hurricanes and 6 of which could become major hurricanes (category 3 or higher). These numbers also include Alberto, Beryl, and Chris.

Forecasters continue to cite the likely onset of La Nina as the main reason for the slight increase in numbers. La Nina will typically increase Atlantic Hurricane activity due to the decrease in harsh upper-level winds that can hinder hurricane development. Pairing the likely favorable upper-level winds with the incredibly warm ocean waters is the perfect recipe for tropical storm development.

THE 2024 HURRICANE SEASON SO FAR

Hurricane season officially began on June 1 and runs through November 30th. So far, three named storms have been crossed off the list, one of which made history and landfall just one day ago. Tropical Storm Alberto formed in the Gulf of Mexico just 19 days into the season, making landfall along the northeastern coast of Mexico.

Then there was Beryl, which set records as the strongest an Atlantic Hurricane has been that early in the season. Beryl rapidly intensified from a tropical wave to a Category 2 storm in less than 48 hours, then went on to become the first major hurricane of the 2024 season, then further intensified to the first Category 5 storm of the season and the earliest Category 5 on record. Beryl left destruction in its wake bringing damage to the Windward Islands, Jamaica, portions of the Yucatan Peninsula, and Texas. It was one for the record books, making landfall as a Category 1 storm just before 4 am on July 8th, bringing torrential rains and damaging winds. Then there was tropical storm Chris, which if you blinked you missed. Chris made landfall around the same place Alberto did, bringing additional heavy rain and damaging winds to the northeastern coast of Mexico.

WHAT’S OUT THERE NOW?

Essentially, nothing. As of the latest update from the National Hurricane Center, they are still issuing guidance on post-tropical cyclone Beryl as it moves to the northeast through the nation, but have no tropical waves to monitor at the moment. We’ll continue to closely monitor the tropics as the season goes on. For the latest weather information, download the KBTX First Alert Weather App or check out the hurricane section on our webpage to download the 2024 Hurricane Tracking Chart!