The experts at Colorado State University predict another above-average hurricane season.
For the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, Colorado State University is forecasting 19 named storms. Out of those 19 named storms, 9 are predicted to become hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes (category 3 or higher.)
In 2021, we saw 21 named storms in the Atlantic; 7 hurricanes and 4 were major hurricanes. The major hurricanes were Grace, Ida, Larry, and Sam.
Ida was a destructive and deadly Category 4 hurricane that made landfall across Southeastern Louisiana 16 years to the day Hurricane Katrina made landfall. Over 100 fatalities were reported and 75 billion dollars in damage, making Ida the fifth-costliest tropical cyclone on record. Ida also brought significant rain and flooding to New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Tropical Storm Elsa
However, Elsa will likely be the system that New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic Region will remember for some time. Elsa made landfall across Western Cuba and then moved across the Big Bend of Florida on July 6, 2021. Elsa moved into Georgia, the Carolina’s, and then accelerated across the Mid-Atlantic and brought very heavy rainfall and gusty winds.
The National Weather Service in Mount Holly confirmed two tornadoes in Cape May and Ocean Counties. The strongest tornado was rated an EF-1 in the Woodbine area, which uprooted two large cedar trees and destroyed a picnic shelter.
