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Canadians urged to prepare as top meteorologist predicts active hurricane season

May 20, 2021 | 1:32 PM

HALIFAX — The Canadian Hurricane Centre is predicting another active hurricane season this year, citing the persistence of warmer-than-average ocean temperatures.

Meteorologist Bob Robichaud also confirmed today that a storm brewing in the middle of the Atlantic has a 90 per cent chance of becoming the first named storm of the season — even though the season doesn’t start until June 1.

If the low-pressure system transforms into tropical storm Ana — as expected — its formation would mark the seventh consecutive year that a named storm has developed ahead of the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Earlier in the day, the U.S.-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also called for a busy season, saying there could be between 13 and 20 named storms this year, which could include between six and ten hurricanes.

An average season produces about 14 tropical storms and seven hurricanes.

Still, Robichaud said it’s unlikely the Atlantic will churn out as many storms as last year, when a record-breaking 30 named storms were recorded.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 20, 2021.

The Canadian Press

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