2021 MD Hurricane Season Start, Claudette To Pass Off MidAtlantic

MARYLAND — Maryland and the rest of the East Coast should prepare for an above-normal hurricane season with what is now tropical depression Claudette expected to pass well offshore along the Mid-Atlantic states on Monday.

While this Atlantic hurricane season isn't expected to be as active as last year's record-breaking season, it is expected to be above normal for the number of storms that churn across the ocean, national experts said Thursday. Residents should get financial documents ready before a storm is headed to the state and have plans in place for severe weather.

For this hurricane season, which runs through Nov. 30, the National Weather Service is predicting 13 to 20 named storms with top winds of 39 mph, six to 10 hurricanes with top winds of 75 mph, and three to five major hurricanes with top winds of 111 mph, said Matthew Rosencrans, hurricane season outlook lead at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.

The first storm to take a swing up part of the East Coast this summer is Tropical Storm Claudette, which dumped heavy rain across the U.S. Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida as it chugged inland Saturday, triggering flash floods and tornado warnings along its soggy course across the Southeast.

Related: 2021 Hurricane Season Names: From Ana And Bill To Sam And Wanda

Claudette accelerated east-northeastward Sunday and the center of the cyclone should be near the coast of North Carolina Monday morning, the National Hurricane Center forecast said. The storm should pass well offshore the Mid-Atlantic coast Monday afternoon and Monday night.

As it moves off the Carolinas Monday, Claudette is likely to regain tropical storm strength, the NHC said.

Tropical storm conditions are possible in northeastern South Carolina Sunday night and Monday, where a tropical storm watch is in effect.

2021 Hurricane Season Forecasts

"Last year was our most active hurricane season in 170 years," U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves said in May during the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association's outlook for the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season.

NOAA said there is a 60 percent chance that 2021 will be an above-normal hurricane season.

For this hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, the National Weather Service is predicting 13 to 20 named storms with top winds of 39 mph, six to 10 hurricanes with top winds of 75 mph, and three to five major hurricanes with top winds of 111 mph, said Matthew Rosencrans, hurricane season outlook lead at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.

The average for major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5) remains unchanged at three. The previous Atlantic storm averages were 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

In April, hurricane researchers at Colorado State University predicted an "above average" year, citing the absence of El Niño. Subtropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures are much warmer than average, which favors an active 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, the scientists said.

The CSU Tropical Meteorology Project team predicts 17 named storms during the Atlantic hurricane season. Of those, researchers expect eight to become hurricanes and four to reach major hurricane strength (Saffir/Simpson category 3-4-5) with sustained winds of 111 miles per hour or more.

Hurricane Preparation Tips

Residents should perform the following safety precautions before a storm heads toward Maryland:

• Sign up for alerts and warnings from your county and state, as well as NOAA Weather Radio https://www.weather.gov/nwr/
• Make a plan - visit https://www.ready.gov/plan
• Plan with neighbors - communities are more resilient when they work together. See Guide to Emergency Planning for Communities
• Know hurricane evacuation zones - visit KnowYourZoneMD
• Save for a rainy day - visit https://www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness
• Practice emergency drills both at home and at the office
• Make and test a family communications plan* Designate a central contact number with a family member or trusted friend, perhaps out of town* Text messages will go through when voice lines are overloaded
• Assemble or update emergency supplies - visit https://www.ready.gov/kit (includes CDC recommendations)
• Safeguard valuable documents both physically and digitally
• Make your home safer - visit https://www.weather.gov/wrn/2020-hurricane-strengthen-home
• Document and insure your property - visit https://www.weather.gov/wrn/2020-hurricane-insurance
• Get involved in your community - take an emergency course, volunteer, request a preparedness presentation

Maryland Hurricane History

To find out more about hurricane season and storm preparation, read these related Patch stories:

• Remember Agnes? 14 Maryland Hurricane Names You May Want To Forget

Maryland has been spared "the big one" on most occasions, but for roughly 60 years, named hurricanes have battered our water-oriented state, altering our lifestyles and our history.
Hurricanes Connie and Diane pounded Maryland in October 1955. Just days apart in their torture on the East Coast, the storms caused widespread flooding. Connie essentially came right up the Bay.

Meanwhile, Diane came on land near the Carolina border and turned east to pass over northern Maryland before going back out to sea.

More recently, Hurricane Sandy in October of 2012 made landfall just north of the upper Chesapeake Bay region, and destroyed the Ocean City fishing pier. From there it went on to devastate oceanfront areas of New Jersey and New York.

Residents readying for the upcoming season can get tips and advice on the federal government's Ready.gov website.

To keep up with potential storms during hurricane season, bookmark the National Hurricane Center's website. For local weather and severe weather alerts, visit the National Weather Service online.