CSU Updates Their Tropical Outlook

news image
Special Stories
18 Jun 2025 12:00 AM

JUNE 11, 2025

The folks at Colorado State planned on updating the outlook today and they did - no changes. They're still expecting a ENSO neutral regime to persist through the Hurricane Season. That, with above average sea surface temperatures (but not as hot as last year) should still point to a busy season. Their next update to the outlook is scheduled for July 9, with another adjustment August 6.

APRIL 3, 2025

Today, meteorologists and research scientists at Colorado State University (CSU) have released their outlook for the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Dr. Phil Klotzbach and the Tropical Meteorology Project at CSU are among the first to issue an outlook for the season. Early predictions expect this year's hurricane season to be busier than average. This year they anticipate 17 named storms, 9 of which will become hurricanes and 4 of those are expected to become major hurricanes (CAT 3 or greater).

Forecast factors that contributed to their above average outlook focus on the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and sea surface temperatures. In the coming months, a transition to ENSO neutral is expected. That usually does not give a strong single for an above or below average season. However, by the end of the summer into early fall (climatological peak of hurricane season), a potential transition to La Nina is forecast. There is not much certainty on the likelihood or intensity of that La Nina transition, though. Nonetheless, an absence of El Nino which traditionally suppresses hurricane activity is enough to warrant an above average forecast.

Sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic remain above average this year. SSTs are not as warm as last year's historic levels, but remain warm enough to fuel storm development later in the season.

All Weather News
More
Heavy Rain, Thunderstorms Bring Flooding Concerns to Northeast as Storm System Moves East

Heavy Rain, Thunderstorms Bring Flooding Concerns to Northeast as Storm System Moves East

A stretch of dry weather is coming to an end

6 Nov 2026 2:10 PM
Atmospheric River Setup for the Northwest

Atmospheric River Setup for the Northwest

The calendar has now turned to month of Novem

6 Nov 2026 1:00 PM
Tropics Update: Activity to Watch in Both Basins

Tropics Update: Activity to Watch in Both Basins

November is underway, but hurricane season is

6 Nov 2026 12:50 PM
Flash Flood Emergency For Parts of Georgia and Tennessee

Flash Flood Emergency For Parts of Georgia and Tennessee

Residences along the Ocoee (TN) and Toccoa (G

5 Nov 2026 1:50 PM
Torrential Downpours Batter the Sunshine State

Torrential Downpours Batter the Sunshine State

Florida has seen heavy rainfall and lots of f

5 Nov 2026 11:05 AM
Recapping the Significant Flooding in the Southwest

Recapping the Significant Flooding in the Southwest

The Southwest is getting active once again wi

2 Nov 2026 7:20 PM
Skiing Opens in the Rockies, Heavy Snow on the Way

Skiing Opens in the Rockies, Heavy Snow on the Way

Time to wax the skis and grab the winter gear

2 Nov 2026 7:10 PM