Hurricane Season 2013 Unusual, Says RMS; Humberto Expected to Miss U.S.

September 9, 2013

This is the first season in 11 years not to have produced a landfalling hurricane by August, RMS said on Monday morning in a hurricane fact sheet released to the media.

The statement noted that there have been seven tropical storms but none have reached hurricane strength, adding, however that September is usually the busiest month for hurricanes.

The historical average for September is 2.1 hurricanes, RMS said, noting that sea surface temperatures are warmer in September. If the current windshear settles, a significant hurricane could still occur, the statement said.

The year 1988 did not produce a storm of hurricane strength until September 2. That hurricane season went on to produce Hurricane Gilbert, which made landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico on September 13. At its peak, Gilbert was the most powerful hurricane on record until hurricane Wilma in 2005.

As of Monday morning, the eighth tropical storm of the 2013 hurricane season, Tropical Storm Humberto, has formed off the coast of Senegal, and is forecast to become the first hurricane of the season by Wednesday, September 11. However, Humberto is predicted to turn northwards after 48 hours and does not look likely to affect the United States.

If the forecasts are correct, Humberto will tie with Gustav (2002) as the latest forming first hurricane of the Atlantic season since records began.

Source: RMS