2018 Hurricane Forecasts, Potential Hudson Valley Impact Released

[In_The_Wind]

Weather researchers are predicting a slightly above-average Atlantic Hurricane season in 2018.

https://patch.com/new-york/midhudsonvalley/s/geerh/2018-hurricane-forecasts-potential-hudson-valley-impact-released?utm_source=alert-breakingnews&utm_medium=email&utm_term=weather&utm_campaign=alert


Edward "Roaddawg" Manley, a volunteer and honorary firefighter with the Point Breeze Volunteer Fire Department, places a star on top of a Christmas tree on Dec. 25, 2012 in Breezy Point, Queens. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

Last September hurricanes leveled Puerto Rico, wrought widespread damage in Florida and Georgia, flooded parts of Texas that trapped residents in their cars and homes, and sent refugees fleeing north. Now two new hurricane forecasts say that the Atlantic Coast – and potentially the Hudson Valley – could have a damaging storm season in 2018.

A report by Colorado State University researchers says the number of named storms and hurricanes will likely be above historical averages.

The last major hurricanes to affect the Hudson Valley were the 2012 Sandy and 2011 Irene storms. Irene had weakened to a tropical storm by the time it reached the Hudson Valley, but it still left thousands of people without power, some of them for weeks, and its extraordinarily heavy rains caused flood damage that is still being repaired.

Superstorm Sandy killed four people in the lower Hudson Valley and 43 people in New York City. It caused billions of dollars worth of damage.