Donations received will be accumulated for a prepared response the active 2023 hurricane season. Donating now speeds up the availability of relief for those impacted by the next hurricane.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has increased its 2023 Atlantic hurricane season from “near normal” to “above normal.” NOAA forecasters now call for 14 to 21 named storms. Of those, it predicts that six to 11 could become hurricanes, of which two to five could become major hurricanes. The update includes storms that have already formed this season.
Major hurricanes are defined by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. This scale only takes wind speed into account—it does not factor in rainfall, storm surges or tornadoes. A “major hurricane” is a Category 3, 4 or 5, with a wind range of 111 mph to 157 mph and higher. A Category 3 or higher can cause catastrophic property damage and power outages, forcing people out of their homes for days to several months.
The NOAA says there is a:
NOAA forecasters believe that current ocean and atmospheric conditions, such as a record-warm Atlantic sea surface, are likely to counterbalance the conditions associated with El Niño that can reduce hurricanes. Factors considered for this updated forecast include:
