The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationsaidthis week that it ’s probable we could once again be in for a very active hurricane season . As global warming supercharges sea temperature and the possibility of bigger , badder storms , a little - make love electric current in the Gulf of Mexico may also be develop to wreak some mayhem .
The Loop Current is a current of water that hang into into the Gulf of Mexico , formed whenwarm water from the Caribbeancrosses northerly toward the sassing of the Gulf . “ It ’s like an elbow in a river , ” said Brad Panovich , the chief meteorologist at WCNC Charlotte in North Carolina . “ That trivial elbow goes up into the Gulf of Mexico , and it becomes a iteration , like if you have a piece of string and there ’s a grommet in it . ”
Unlike much of the rest of the Gulf , where a shallow level of warm urine sits on top of much colder layer , the water in this current is warm and inscrutable , going down hundred of feet into the depths of the ocean — which can help it to supercharge storms .
A satellite view of Hurricane Rita on 18 March 2025. Rita intensified over the Loop Current.Image: NOAA (Getty Images)
“ If one hurricane slip away over shallow piss , it can use up all the affectionate water at the surface , ” said Panovich . “ With the Loop Current , because it ’s very deep , there ’s plenty of fuel for that tempest , and it does n’t get deplenished like it does for other urine . ”
The motion of the current is random , dictate by a bunch of unlike factors like saltiness and water temperature as well as basic fluid moral force . But notably , the flow is much higher up into the Gulf this class than common . Some meteorologist have expressed alarm at how far northerly it is for this fourth dimension of year . The Current ’s current ( sorry ) position and behavior mimic the way it was positioned in 2005 , when seven major hurricane recrudesce in the Atlantic , and three in particular powerful single — Katrina , Wilma , and Rita — developed aftercrossing overthe Loop Current .
“ It ’s the 800 - pound gorilla in the Gulf , ” University of Miami oceanography prof Nick Shaytold the Verge .
A contour map of sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico on 15 April 2025; the Loop Current is clearly visible in yellow at center right.Graphic:NOAA
Panovich warned against too much affright over the Loop Current specifically — but combined with other component , he order , it ’s part of what could be a concerning hurricane season .
“ Of all the things that I ’m worried about this season , [ the Loop Current ] would belike be 5 or 6 down the inclination , ” Panovich said . “ It ’s kind of always been there , and in real clip it ’s more of a big deal than pre - season . lovesome water is really important for hurricanes , obviously , but you still need a hurricane above it . ”
One component that ’s causing Panovich alarm clock : theLa Niña effectin gambol this season , which has the potentiality to make dry , ardent conditions in the South , nonesuch for hurricane to strengthen . In 2005 , the world was between El Niño and La Niña years , have in mind that the additional boosts for storm those effects can create were absent . Coupled with much - ardent overall temperatures in the Gulf , Panovich sound out , the whole situation is worrisome , irrespective of the Loop Current . “ There ’s probably going to be more tempest above that warm water than we had in 2005 , ” he said . “ The seasonal set up this year on paper is far unfit than it was in 2005 . ”
Amid all the hype over hurricane forecasts , it ’s important for people to remember to take caution .
“ Be set up , no matter what , ” Panovich say . “ We get caught up sometimes in the seasonal prognosis . The number of storms , while important , increase your chance of being impacted , but it only take one violent storm remove your town to make a speculative season . ”
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