Canadian Hurricane Centre forecasts below-average hurricane season

WATCH: The Canadian Hurricane Centre is predicting fewer than average storms ahead of this year’s hurricane season but is warning Atlantic Canadians to be prepared nonetheless. Rebecca Lau reports.

DARTMOUTH – The Canadian Hurricane Centre is predicting a lower than average number of storms ahead of this year’s hurricane season, but is warning Atlantic Canadians to be prepared nonetheless.

Meteorologists attribute this weakened hurricane outlook to cool water temperatures in the Atlantic and an El Niño weather pattern.

“Whenever we get an El Niño, that increases the wind shear in the tropics and the Atlantic, which doesn’t favour hurricane formation,” said Bob Robichaud, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada.

The forecast calls for six to 11 named storms this year, compared to an average of 12 between the years 1981 and 2010.

It’s predicted there will be between zero and two major hurricanes, which are considered category 3-5.

The forecast cannot predict, however, how many of these storms will make landfall.

“Even though there’s a low number of storms in the entire Atlantic basin, you can still get a very damaging storm on any given year,” said Robichaud.

The centre’s predictions reflect the forecast from its American Counterpart, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.