NOAA eyes busy Atlantic hurricane season amid La Niña, warmer ocean temperatures

Adam Yanelli

24-May-2022

HOUSTON (ICIS)–The 2022 Atlantic hurricane season is likely to produce an above-average number of storms because of an ongoing La Niña and warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

NOAA forecasters are predicting between 14-21 named storms this season. A storm is named once it has sustained winds of 39 miles/hour (63 km/hour).

Of those, six to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including three to six major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher.

NOAA said if its projections hold, this would be the seventh season in a row of above-average hurricane activity.

The 2021 season produced 21 named storms, including seven hurricanes of which four were major hurricanes.

Only two hurricanes made landfall in the US during the 2021 season, but one of them caused damage that is still impacting chemical markets today.

Hurricane Ida  hit the central Louisiana coast as a category 4 hurricane on 29 August, bringing with it strong winds and flooding to the area which impacted chemical plants in the region.

Ida tightened US chemical and polymer markets, including the chlor-alkali chain all the way through polyvinyl chloride (PVC), methylene diphenyl disocyanate (MDI) styrene, linear alpha olefins (LAO), phthalic anhydride (PA) and butanediol (BDO).

During a La Niña weather pattern, hurricane activity in the central and eastern Pacific basins is suppressed and enhanced in the Atlantic basin.

Hurricanes and tropical storms can disrupt the North American petrochemical industry, because many of the nation’s plants and refineries are along the US Gulf Coast in the states of Texas and Louisiana.

Also, oil and gas production is concentrated in the Gulf of Mexico. Even the threat of a major storm can disrupt oil and natural gas supplies because companies often evacuate US Gulf platforms as a precaution.

Petrochemical markets are already tight because of problems caused by logistical constraints and the busy hurricane season 2021.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June through 30 November.

READ MORE

Global News + ICIS Chemical Business (ICB)

See the full picture, with unlimited access to ICIS chemicals news across all markets and regions, plus ICB, the industry-leading magazine for the chemicals industry.

Contact us

Now, more than ever, dynamic insights are key to navigating complex, volatile commodity markets. Access to expert insights on the latest industry developments and tracking market changes are vital in making sustainable business decisions.

Want to learn about how we can work together to bring you actionable insight and support your business decisions?

Need Help?

Need Help?