Question 1

What guides are available for hurricane preparedness?

Accepted Answer

IsItHurricaneSeasonYet.com publishes guides covering hurricane season science (sea surface temperatures, wind shear, ENSO/La Niña, African dust), safety topics (storm surge, cone of uncertainty, evacuation planning), home preparation (generators, hurricane shutters, prep checklists), and financial protection (flood insurance, NFIP). All guides are written for coastal homeowners and residents, not meteorologists.

Question 2

Why is 2026 expected to be an above-normal hurricane season?

Accepted Answer

NOAA's 2026 above-normal forecast is driven by four climate factors: Atlantic sea surface temperatures running approximately 1.4°C above average (providing more fuel for storm formation and intensification), La Niña conditions in the Pacific (reducing wind shear across the Atlantic Main Development Region), and near-normal Saharan dust activity (offering no unusual suppression). When warm SSTs and low shear occur together, conditions favor more storms reaching hurricane intensity and more rapid intensification events.

Question 3

What is the most important thing to do before hurricane season?

Accepted Answer

The single most time-sensitive action is purchasing flood insurance if you don't already have it. NFIP flood policies have a 30-day waiting period before coverage activates — meaning if you buy a policy on May 31, it won't cover a storm that forms June 15. Standard homeowner's insurance does not cover flood or storm surge damage. Beyond insurance: schedule shutter installation, acquire a generator before supply collapses, and know your evacuation zone and route before a watch is ever issued.

Question 4

What is sea surface temperature and why does it matter for hurricanes?

Accepted Answer

Sea surface temperature (SST) is the primary energy source for tropical cyclones. Hurricanes are heat engines — they draw warm, moist air upward from the ocean surface and convert that thermal energy into wind. The general development threshold is 26°C (79°F) at the surface, but warmer and deeper warm water provides dramatically more energy. Above-average SSTs expand the geographic area where storms can form and intensify, and increase the likelihood of rapid intensification events where a storm gains 35+ mph of wind speed within 24 hours.

Question 5

What is wind shear and how does it affect hurricanes?

Accepted Answer

Wind shear is the difference in wind speed and direction between the lower and upper atmosphere. High shear physically disrupts a hurricane's organized vertical structure, preventing development or weakening existing storms. Low shear allows storms to organize and intensify without that atmospheric interference. La Niña conditions in the Pacific reduce upper-level westerly winds over the Atlantic, lowering shear and creating a more permissive environment for storm development — which is why ENSO phase is one of the most reliable seasonal predictors of Atlantic hurricane activity.

Question 6

What is the Saharan Air Layer and does it stop hurricanes?

Accepted Answer

The Saharan Air Layer (SAL) is a mass of warm, dry, dust-laden air that moves off the African continent each summer and drifts westward across the Atlantic. It suppresses hurricane development through three mechanisms: dry air intrusion (depriving storms of the moisture they need), increased wind shear at the boundary layer, and slight reduction in ocean surface heating from dust blocking sunlight. In years with exceptionally heavy SAL activity, it can partially dampen an otherwise active season — but it is not a reliable barrier. SAL plumes wax and wane, and gaps between dust events allow storms to develop rapidly.

Hurricane prep and reference guides.