FLORIDA, United States — It was clear before the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season started that it was going to be busy. Six months later, we’re looking back at a trail of broken records, and the storms may still not be over even though the season officially ended on November 30.

This season had the most named storms, with 30, taking the record from the calamitous 2005 season that brought Hurricane Katrina to New Orleans. It was only the second time the list of storm names was exhausted since naming began in the 1950s.

 

Ten storms underwent rapid intensification, a number not seen since 1995. Twelve made landfall in the US, also setting a new record. Six of those land-falling storms were hurricane strength, tying yet another record.

 

As atmosphericscientists, we target our research at better understanding both what drives the formation of tropical cyclones and how climate change is affecting them on longer time scales. Here’s what research tells us about the 2020 season and what may be ahead.

 

Why did 2020 have so many storms?

 

An unfortunate combination of two key factors made this season ripe for tropical storms.

 

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Record-breaking_hurricane_season_raises_more_concerns_about_climate_change

 

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