Forecasters predict active Atlantic hurricane season. See odds of a hurricane hitting MA

Yahoo! News - Apr 4th, 2025

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season is poised to be active, with up to 17 named storms expected, according to forecasts by Colorado State University. At least nine of these are predicted to become hurricanes, with a notable 40% chance of impacting Massachusetts and possible effects on other New England states. This forecast follows last year's 18 storms, where only five made landfall in the U.S., including the destructive Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The increased activity is attributed to warmer ocean temperatures and the absence of El Niño conditions, which typically suppress hurricane development.

The implications of this forecast are significant for New England, a region historically less impacted by hurricanes, with the last major landfall occurring in 1991. The potential for more frequent and intense storms could pose greater risks to infrastructure and safety. The warm Atlantic waters and likely ENSO-neutral conditions suggest a heightened hurricane season, raising concerns for coastal preparedness and response strategies. The predictions underscore the need for vigilance and readiness as the region braces for possible severe weather impacts.

Hurricane Helene Hurricane Milton Atlantic Hurricane Season 2025 Colorado State University New England Hurricane Risk Phil Klotzbach Enso Neutral Conditions

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RATING

8.2

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article about the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season is well-researched and provides accurate, timely information from reputable sources like Colorado State University and AccuWeather. It effectively communicates the predictions and factors influencing the season's activity, such as ocean temperatures and ENSO conditions. The article is balanced, offering perspectives from multiple forecasting organizations, though it could enhance balance by including more local viewpoints.

While the article is clear and readable, with a logical structure and straightforward language, it could benefit from more direct citations or links to the source material to improve transparency and verifiability. The topic is of high public interest and relevance, particularly for those in potentially affected regions, and the article has the potential to influence preparedness and awareness.

Overall, the article is a strong piece of journalism that effectively informs readers about an important and timely topic, though it could further enhance its impact and engagement by incorporating more multimedia elements and practical guidance for readers.

Accuracy

The article's accuracy is high, as it presents information that aligns closely with established forecasts and historical data. The prediction of up to 17 named storms for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season is supported by Colorado State University's forecast, which is a reputable source in meteorology. The article correctly references the absence of El Niño and the presence of warm Atlantic waters as factors contributing to an active hurricane season, which are consistent with expert opinions.

The historical context provided, such as the number of storms in 2024 and the impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, is accurate based on available records. The statistical probabilities of storm impacts on New England states are directly cited from Colorado State's forecast, adding to the factual precision. However, while most claims are verifiable, the article could benefit from more direct citations or links to these forecasts to enhance verifiability for readers.

Overall, the article maintains a high degree of factual accuracy, though it could improve by explicitly citing sources within the text. This would strengthen its credibility and allow readers to verify claims independently.

Balance

The article provides a balanced view of the upcoming hurricane season by incorporating multiple forecasts and perspectives. It references predictions from Colorado State University, AccuWeather, and mentions upcoming forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), offering a comprehensive overview of expert opinions.

While the article focuses heavily on predictions and statistics, it could enhance balance by including perspectives from local officials or communities potentially affected by the hurricane season. This would provide a more holistic view of the potential human impact and preparedness measures.

Overall, the article is well-balanced in terms of expert perspectives but could benefit from including more diverse viewpoints to address the broader societal implications of an active hurricane season.

Clarity

The article is generally clear, with a logical flow and structure that guides the reader through the predictions and factors influencing the 2025 hurricane season. The language is straightforward, making complex meteorological concepts accessible to a general audience.

The article effectively uses subheadings to organize information, which aids in comprehension. However, the inclusion of more direct citations or links could enhance clarity by allowing readers to verify and further explore the information presented.

Overall, the article is well-written and clear, though it could benefit from additional references to improve reader understanding of the source material.

Source quality

The article relies on high-quality sources, such as Colorado State University and AccuWeather, both of which are respected authorities in meteorological forecasting. The inclusion of expert commentary from Phil Klotzbach, a well-known meteorologist, adds credibility to the claims made about the upcoming hurricane season.

However, the article could improve by explicitly naming the sources within the text, such as providing direct quotes or links to the forecasts. This would not only enhance transparency but also allow readers to assess the reliability of the information independently.

Overall, the source quality is excellent, with reliance on authoritative and credible institutions, though greater attribution within the text would further strengthen it.

Transparency

The article provides a clear explanation of the factors influencing the hurricane season forecast, such as ocean temperatures and ENSO conditions. It cites expert opinions and predictions, which offer insight into the basis of the claims.

However, the article lacks explicit citations or links to the original forecasts and reports. This omission slightly reduces transparency, as readers cannot directly access the source material to verify the information presented. Including such links would enhance the article's transparency by allowing readers to explore the data and methodologies behind the forecasts.

Overall, while the article is transparent in explaining the factors influencing the hurricane season, it could improve by providing direct access to its sources.