Hurricane Season 2015 News Update: 8 Tropical Storms Expected

Countries in the Atlantic are predicted to experience a calmer hurricane season in 2015 due to cool waters and El Niño, resulting to only eight storms.

According to the Washington Post, June 1 marks the beginning of the six-month-long hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean. Top weather forecasters revealed that this season would see less activity than usual.

A report from the National Geographic reveals a forecast made by Colorado State University's meteorologists, predicting three tropical storm systems that could transform into hurricanes with winds of 74 miles or 119 kilometers per hour at the minimum.

Furthermore, it was forecasted that one of these almost-hurricanes has the potential to intensify and become a major storm, which would have winds of more than 110 miles or 177 kilometers per hour up until the end of the hurricane season in November 30.

This very small number of storms predicted, according to Yahoo News, is because of a meteorological phenomenon called the El Niño.

El Niño is a phenomenon which occurs when the waters of the Pacific Ocean are unusually warm. With the El Niño lurking, hurricanes cannot form, especially since the meteorological phenomenon generates wind shear over the area, thereby inhibiting formation.

The National Geographic also revealed that the presence of cooler waters in the Atlantic also helps make this year's hurricane season quieter than usual, because tropical storms draw strength from surface waters that have a temperature of at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

However, residents along the coast of the Atlantic are warned against being too calm because there is still a possibility of a strong hurricane. Experts believe that it is still too early to get any sure forecast on whether the Atlantic is starting a cycle of cooler waters and a quiet hurricane season.

The Bahamas and the Gulf of Mexico still has warmer water temperature than usual, which can provide a conducive environment for the formation of a strong storm.

Meteorologists are also not very confident of the forecast, especially since recent events prove there's still a possibility of activity.

Just about a month ago, experts predicted that tropical storm Ana wouldn't be as active as it had been, leading Weather Underground Meteorology Director Jeff Masters to conclude that formations during the early part of the season does not indicate how it would be like for the entire season.

Other experts echoed his opinion, with some noting that several very powerful hurricanes actually formed even during El Niño.