Atlantic Hurricane Season 2024 Impacted by La Niña

news image
Special Stories
29 May 2024 12:30 PM

Hurricane season is less than one week away and forecasts are calling for a much above-average season in the tropical Atlantic. Forecasters at NOAA expect 17-25 named storms and forecasters at Colorado State University expect 23 named storms. The official list of hurricane names only has a total of 21 names (A-W) so if we were to see the forecasts pan out, an alternate list of names would be used, starting back at the letter "A". So what is behind this above-average forecast?

It is the ENSO, or El Niño Southern Oscillation, a global sea surface and atmosphere pattern interaction that impacts forecast patterns in the United States. The forecast impacts are most commonly felt during the Winter months in the northern hemisphere, but the ENSO cycle also has impacts on the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season.

According to experts at the Climate Prediction Center, "A transition from El Niño to ENSO-neutral is likely in [June]. La Niña may develop in June-August (49% chance) or July-September (69% chance)". La Niña will likely continue through the end of hurricane season on November 30th. Our most recent La Niña Hurricane seasons were 2020, 2021 and 2022. All three were above average for hurricane activity.

We typically see elevated hurricane activity in the Atlantic tropics during La Niña events because the temperature profiles and interactions between the ocean surface and atmosphere lead to less shear over the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Shear rips apart hurricanes, so the less of it, the better the environment is for storms to develop and be sustained.

Remember these are forecasts and projections but no storms have officially been named yet. It is important to stay up to date on the latest tropical conditions throughout the season with WeatherNation.

All Weather News
More
Gulf-Effect Snow Possible This Weekend

Gulf-Effect Snow Possible This Weekend

You've been warned, iguanas. We've had glanci

29 Jan 2026 1:45 PM
Another Weekend Snow on the East Coast?

Another Weekend Snow on the East Coast?

A strengthening coastal low is expected to br

29 Jan 2026 1:00 PM
Thousands Without Power as another Systems Brews

Thousands Without Power as another Systems Brews

ABOVE - Up to one inch of ice accumulated acr

29 Jan 2026 12:30 PM
Lake-Effect Snow Continues, Shifts Toward Chicago This Weekend

Lake-Effect Snow Continues, Shifts Toward Chicago This Weekend

Persistent bursts of cold air have continued

29 Jan 2026 12:10 PM
Rain Finally Makes a Return to the Northwest

Rain Finally Makes a Return to the Northwest

We're making a run at two straight weeks with

29 Jan 2026 12:10 PM
Cold Air Sticks Around the Central to Eastern U.S.

Cold Air Sticks Around the Central to Eastern U.S.

Temperatures have been record-breaking with h

29 Jan 2026 2:50 AM
Severe Thunderstorms Possible Across the South on Sunday

Severe Thunderstorms Possible Across the South on Sunday

While much of the country will be impacted by

25 Jan 2026 10:40 PM