A rare coincidence of the Pacific and Atlantic Niñas is expected to lessen the severity of the hurricane season in 2024, despite the year still being highly active.
La Niña is a climate phenomenon that occurs in the tropical Pacific when sea surface temperatures dip below normal. This cooling affects the atmosphere and can impact climate and weather worldwide. On the other hand, Atlantic Niña is a similar phenomenon that occurs in the Atlantic Ocean but at a smaller scale and amplitude.
Atlantic Niña tends to have the opposite effect of La Niña and can partially counteract its impacts by weakening summer winds that help drive the upwelling that cools the eastern Pacific. This means that the combination of both Niñas may have a positive impact on the hurricane season.
In July and August 2024, meteorologists noted cooling that appeared to be the development of an Atlantic Niña along the equator. At the same time, waters along the equator in the eastern Pacific were also cooling, with La Niña conditions expected by October or November. While it’s too early to predict the exact impact of this rare combination, it’s possible that it will lead to a less active hurricane season.
Key Points to Note:
It’s essential to stay up to date with the latest climate forecasts and predictions to prepare for any potential consequences of this rare combination of climate phenomena.
As a concerned citizen, I was intrigued by the recent phenomenon where both La Niña and Atlantic Niña have been observed to be developing simultaneously, potentially weakening the 2024 hurricane season. This rare occurrence is attributed to the unusual cooling of the equatorial regions of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, which is quite distinct from the surface temperatures in the North Atlantic Ocean that have been at record-high levels.
It is essential to understand the La Niña and Atlantic Niña phenomena and their differing effects on hurricane seasons. While La Niña in the Pacific typically creates conditions favorable for hurricanes, the Atlantic Niña tends to have the opposite effect, resulting in reduced hurricane risks.
The emerging question is: how will these two events simultaneously impact the hurricane season? Will the weaker summer winds associated with the Atlantic Niña weaken the upwelling that cools the eastern Pacific?
With the combined phenomenon of La Niña and Atlantic Niña taking place in August 2024, the hurricane season has become increasingly unique. With the La Niña conditions forecasted to emerge by October or November, this event is expected to reduce some hurricane risks.