Last week, the US National Hurricane Center issued its first advisory of the year, ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season which officially runs from June 1 to November 30.
The advisory was based on a low-pressure area discovered on April 24 in the east-central Atlantic Ocean, approximately 900 miles northwest of Cape Verde. Although this disturbance dissipated due to stronger upper-level winds, it signals a potentially active hurricane season.
The Colorado State University has forecasted 23 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and 5 major hurricanes for the season, compared to the NOAA’s historical average of 14 tropical storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes from 1991 to 2020.
Severe dust storm from the Sahara reduces visibility and power generation in Greece.This forecasted active season is attributed to unusually high sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the Atlantic, which were 1.2°C above normal in February, setting a record for that month.
High SSTs provide ample energy for storm development. Additionally, a predicted weakening of El Niño is expected to decrease wind shear, which normally hampers hurricane formation by dispersing heat and moisture from the storm’s center.
In other weather news, southeast Europe, particularly Greece, experienced a severe dust storm last week originating from the Sahara. The intense dust cloud significantly reduced visibility, affecting solar power generation.
The dust also posed serious health risks, worsening respiratory conditions for those with asthma or chronic bronchitis, and increasing the likelihood of infections and allergic reactions.
By the end of the week, conditions improved, but another dust wave had reached parts of the western Mediterranean and central Europe. Persistent low pressure across western Europe is likely to bring more dust, affecting areas from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, though some western Iberian regions may be spared.