Warmer waters inviting as hurricane season heats up

The peak of hurricane season is just around the corner, and warm waters off the coast of Nova Scotia could bring storms closer to our shores.

“What we’re looking at right now is water temperatures just off the Maritimes that are one to two degrees above average for this time of the year, and that’s in part due to the warmer weather we’ve been having,” Environment Canada meteorologist Bob Robichaud said in an interview on Monday.

“The water temperature is still too cold to intensify any pure tropical system, but it may delay or slow down some of the weakening.”

Robichaud said the warmer temperatures create an “increase in potential” heading into September, the peak of hurricane season.

The season begins June 1 and traditionally runs till Nov. 30. The Canadian Hurricane Centre is forecasting 12 to 17 named storms this season, with between five and eight being hurricanes.

Those numbers are up from May’s forecast of between 10 and 16 named storms due to increased water temperatures and changing winds.

So far this year, Robichaud said there’ve been six named storms, two of which were hurricanes. Where the next storms will fall, though, Robichaud said it’s “impossible to say” until they form.

“Basically, what we look at is the entire Atlantic Ocean in terms of activity, and what we expect is for activity to be above average,” he said.

Environment Canada recommends having an action plan and emergency supply kit for hurricane season, and making sure your home is as secure as possible.

“The big thing is to prepare for any potential power outages, and to keep a very close eye on the weather at all times, especially as we’re heading into the peak of hurricane season, which is the month of September,” Robichaud said.