Forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Central Pacific Hurricane Center said the Hawaiʻi region could see fewer than normal cyclones for the upcoming hurricane season. The forecast released on May 18, predicted two to four tropical cyclones compared to four to five in a normal season.
It is important to note that the forecast is for the number of storms in the region but not specifically for landfall to the state.
“This year we are predicting less activity in the Central Pacific region compared to normal seasons,” said Matthew Rosencrans, NOAA’s lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at the Climate Prediction Center. “The ongoing La Niña is likely to cause strong vertical wind shear making it more difficult for hurricanes to develop or move into the Central Pacific Ocean.”
Hurricane season in Hawaiʻi occurs roughly between June 1 and November 30. The Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency has a page with tips and resources.
The University of Hawaiʻi encourages all students and employees to prepare for the season before storms approach, when the lines at stores can be overwhelming. UH community members are invited to participate in the UH hurricane season workshops that are held over the summer.
UH resources:
All members of the UH community are urged to sign up for UH Alert to receive emergency text alerts. If you have already signed up, log in to ensure that contact information is up-to-date.
There is also the Pacific Disaster Center’s Disaster Alert desktop version and app (Apple iOS version | Android version) with updated information.
Hawaiʻi Sea Grant created a great one-stop resource for disasters in the Homeowners Handbook to Prepare for Natural Hazards.
Notifications affecting UH campuses will be posted on the emergency information webpage, as well as on social media:
