Prediction Models for Annual U.S. Hurricane Counts

Abstract

The authors build on their efforts to understand and predict coastal hurricane activity by developing statistical seasonal forecast models that can be used operationally. The modeling strategy uses May–June averaged values representing the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), the Southern Oscillation index (SOI), and the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation to predict the probabilities of observing U.S. hurricanes in the months ahead (July–November). The models are developed using a Bayesian approach and make use of data that extend back to 1851 with the earlier hurricane counts (prior to 1899) treated as less certain relative to the later counts. Out-of-sample hindcast skill is assessed using the mean-squared prediction error within a hold-one-out cross-validation exercise. Skill levels are compared to climatology. Predictions show skill above climatology, especially using the NAO + SOI and the NAO-only models. When the springtime NAO values are below normal, there is a heightened risk of U.S. hurricane activity relative to climatology. The preliminary NAO value for 2005 is −0.565 standard deviations so the NAO-only model predicts a 13% increase over climatology of observing three or more U.S. hurricanes.