2023 Hurricane Season 

As the year 2023 ends, we are wrapping up hurricane season, which has been the busiest year on record. The Caribbean hurricane season experienced a total of 20 named storms and seven hurricanes, three of which reached the formidable status of major hurricanes this season. One of the characteristics of these storms that shocked the weather experts was the intensity of each. 

What the Experts Said About the 2023 Hurricane Season 

November 30th marked the end of the hurricane season. Fortunately, the six-month period had a few landfalls compared to what meteorologists thought. Even though few touched land, it was still an active season. We are thankful that people stayed vigilant, were prepared, responses were organized, and effective recovery strategies were implemented. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration anticipated the 2023 hurricane season to forecast 16 to 20 named storms, 8 to 10 being hurricanes. They made these predictions based on favorable atmospheric conditions higher than sea surface temperatures. This typically contributes to the increased hurricane activity. 

The experts at NOAA wrapped up their 2023 hurricane season report, and this is what was concluded. "The Atlantic basin witnessed the highest number of named storms on record despite the influence of El Niño." "The exceptionally warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic acted as a potent counterforce to the typical impacts of El Niño," 

2023 Hurricane Season Wrapped Up 

At the end of the 2023 hurricane season, NOAA named 20 storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes, which is about average for a hurricane season. The most impactful storm was Idalia. This storm made landfall at Keaton Beach, FL, on August 30th.  

Hurricane Idalia had achieved one of the fastest rates of tropical cyclone intensification ever seen in the Atlantic basin within 24 hours of making landfall. The storm reached a category four hurricane before slowly becoming a category three hurricane at landfall. 

CITED: www.thecaribbeannewsnow.com, www.tidalbasingroup.com, www.nesdis.noaa.gov