Hurricane Occurrence and Seasonal Activity: An Analysis of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

Abstract

This article provides a reckoning of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season’s place in history to ascertain how unique it was from other hurricane seasons. A research strategy involving qualitative, descriptive and analytical research approaches, including content analysis, sequential description of events and comparative analysis, were used to assess how and why the 2017 AHS season is distinct from others. Findings reveal that the 2017 AHS was extraordinary by all meteorological standards— in many ways, being hyperactive, and producing a frenetic stretch of huge, long-lived and dramatic, tropical storms including 10 hurricanes. The season was, arguably, the most expensive in history and will be remembered for the unprecedented devastation caused by the season’s major hurricanes (Harvey, Irma and Maria). While the extremely active season can be attributed to anomalously high, climate change induced, hurricane friendly environmental conditions in the Atlantic basin, early forecasts did not also predict the hyperactivity of the season. This article, therefore, advances for a more strategic anticipatory and proactive approach in dealing with these severe storms, underpinned by effective mitigation of their effects. Furthermore, the article adds value to the literature examining extreme natural forces, particularly in understanding variations in the ferocity of the meteorological events associated with hurricane seasons.