Highlights
November 30 marked the end of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season. Throughout the season, nineteen named storms formed over the basin, making it the third most active season on record, tied with 1887 and 1995. Twelve of those storms became hurricanes, and five of them became major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher). It was the most active season since the record-breaking 2005 season.
Multiple factors played a role in the 2010 hurricane season activity. Tropical storms and hurricanes derive energy from warm ocean surface waters, and the Atlantic Ocean experienced record warmth, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Favorable winds off Africa and weak wind shear conditions influenced by La Niña all contributed to storm development.
The storm activity that unfolded over the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season was within the range predicted by NOAA (14–23 named storms, 8–14 hurricanes, 3–7 major hurricanes predicted on May 27). An average season in the Atlantic basin experiences 11 named storms, six hurricanes, and two major hurricanes.
The source article Rainfall from the 2010 Hurricane Season : Image of the Day was published December 3, 2010 by NASA Earth Observatory .
