ULM is no stranger to severe weather and hurricanes. In the past year two hurricanes, Laura and Delta, hit the Monroe area. 

And this year the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted this hurricane season will be more active than usual.

According to NOAA, there is a 65% chance for an above-normal hurricane season in the Atlantic.

They’re also predicting between 15 and 21 named storms and three to five major hurricanes. 

There are many factors that explain why this hurricane season is expected to be stronger than normal.  

According to Yale Climate Connections, hurricanes form using energy from warm water in the ocean. 

Warm waters then fuel thunderstorms that help hurricanes strengthen.  

But as hurricanes move further North, the waters cool off, so they begin to weaken. This is why hurricanes usually form around the Equator in the Atlantic ocean and impact the southern U.S.

However, this hurricane season, the waters in the Tropical Atlantic ocean are warmer, which means that the systems that form will have more energy and can get stronger.

According to chief meteorologist and ULM alum Jarod Floyd, there will most likely be less hurricanes, but they will be stronger. 

“The quality of these storms may be better than their quantity meaning we could essentially see stronger storms this year,” said Floyd. 

This means students should prepare well in advance. 

Ken Leppert, an atmospheric science professor, said the two main things students can do to prepare for a storm is to be weather-aware and to have an emergency supply kit.

“It’s hard to prepare for severe weather if you don’t know it’s coming,” Leppert said. “Keep an emergency supply kit with food, water, medicine, batteries, flashlight […] and everything you would need to go for about a week without power.”