Graph from Phil Klotzbach via Twitter.
Major Hurricanes, that is, Category 3 or stronger, since 1970.
Statistically, the season is not over yet.
I have questions about this record, about the measurement of hurricane strength, and whether the record is long enough to be meaningful – but this is certainly suggestive that Kerry Emanuel and others, who have warned about increasing incidence of strong storms with climate change, may be on to something.
30 major hurricanes this year does not seem correct. I count 2 in the Atlantic and 11 in the Pacific.
take it up with Klotzbach at CSU. he’s on twitter at the link.