There is less than a month remaining in the Atlantic hurricane season, however it remains very active. Yesterday, on November 10th, Subtropical Storm Theta developed over the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. Theta made the 2020 season the most active ever on record.
Theta is the 29th named storm of the Atlantic season and it breaks the record for the highest number of tropical/subtropical storms in a single year. The previous record of 28 storms was set in 2005. Official records date back to 1851.
“After the historic Atlantic hurricane season of 2005, it's remarkable to have another season during my career that would reach this extreme level of activity,” said Louis W. Uccellini, Ph.D., director of NOAA’s National Weather Service. “NOAA’s sustained investment in computer forecast models, technology, observing systems and our skilled workforce have paid off over the last 15 years, with exponentially improved hurricane forecasts.”
The Atlantic hurricane season in a nutshell
The 2020 season began early when Arthur formed on May 16. The extremely active season quickly went through the pre-determined list of 21 names, ending with Wilfred on September 18. Then for only the second time in history, the Greek alphabet was used for the remainder of the season, with Alpha forming the same day. 2020 was the first time ever Eta and Theta had to be used from the Greek Alphabet.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially ends on November 30, but additional storms could develop beyond that date. Forecasters at NOAA’s National Hurricane Center continuously monitor the tropics for storm development and activity. There are currently three systems they are monitoring: Eta, Theta and a third area of potential development that is likely to strengthen to a tropical depression later this week or this weekend. If it strengthens to a tropical storm it would get the name Iota.
Weather Service forecasters at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center issued an outlook in May for an above-average hurricane season and later upgraded that outlook to a rare, extremely-active season in August, ahead of the season's peak in the fall.
