2017 Hurricane Season One Of the Most Active

The Atlantic hurricane season this year is shaping up to be one of the most active, matching the pace of previous above-average seasons with a large number of named storms formed early to mid-August. Historically, the peak of the season is September and tapers off — to already have eight storms in the Atlantic basin is unusual.

“The Weather Company has increased its forecast to 17 named storms, nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes this season.” The increase has been attributed to higher-than-normal landfall risks in the Northeast, warm water temperatures, and a fast start to the hurricane season.

“Increases in tropical Atlantic sea-surface temperatures and a quick start to the season have compelled us to move our forecast numbers up from 15/8/3 to 17/9/4 in this month’s update,” said Dr. Todd Crawford, chief meteorologist at The Weather Company.

Even if hurricanes aren’t destructive on their own, remnants from the systems can form tropical storms that may cause flooding and other damage. This week, the aftermath of Tropical Storm Harvey is predicted to form into a tropical depression. The storm system is heading for the Texas coast this week and might produce storm surge, tropical storm, or hurricane force winds along the coast of Texas. “Officials say details of the tropical storm or hurricane’s landfall location are ‘still very uncertain,’ but note the possibility of landfall along the lower to middle Texas coast around Friday.” Heavy rainfall expected through the weekend and may cause flooding in low-level roadways, creeks, streams and rivers.

Even though one may not be in the direct path of a hurricane, flooding and other issues may still be prevalent. According to the National Weather Service, Houston, Galveston and Southeast Texas residents may experience widespread rainfall through the weekend of around 4 to 8 inches — with the possibility of 10 to 16 inches in some areas. Central Texas might be affected by the storms as well with estimates of heavy rain over the next 7 days.

What can you do to protect yourself during a hurricane or tropical storm?

Here are some tips on how to prepare:

1. Emergency Kit: Have an emergency kit ready-to-go with essential supplies for you and your family. If you have one from a previous year, check and make sure all supplies are still in good condition. How do you know what to pack? Here are some useful instructions on how to make your bag lighter and filled with only the essentials.
2. Emergency Document Bag: Make sure you have a waterproof bag to protect any important documents you need that you wouldn’t want to get lost, damaged, or destroyed during a storm. Learn more about this here.
3. Out-Of-State Emergency Contact: Select an out-of-state emergency contact. During an emergency, local phone lines are often jammed due to the number of people trying to use them at the same time. Long-distance lines are freer and you can usually make long-distance calls. You should choose a contact person that lives at least 100 miles away. During a disaster, family members can call the contact person to report on their status and check on others.
4. Evacuation Route: Learn the evacuation routes in your community, decide where you would go, and how you would get there if needed.
5. Secure Your Home: Establish a quick checklist to be sure your home is secure when you leave.
6. Flood Prone Areas: Research flood prone areas to be sure you avoid these on your evacuation route. Be sure to learn about the elevation of your own property to better understand how it might be affected during varying levels of rainfall and storms.
7. Levees and Dams: Learn about the possible threats of nearby levees and dams that might affect you, your property, and your evacuation during a storm.
8. Gutter Maintenance: Clean gutters during hurricane season to help prevent water damage and assist with water flow.
9. Generator: Discuss the possibility of getting a generator to help you through storms.
10. Board Windows: Permanent storm shutters are the best protection for windows. However, another option is to board windows with 5/8" marine plywood that is cut to size and ready to install. Tape does not prevent broken windows.

Learn additional tips about hurricane preparedness and more at Ready.gov.