By Clint Thompson
One month remains in this year’s tropical season. The Southeast is one month away from not having a tropical system impact the region this year.
It would be an unusual development, says Pam Knox, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension agricultural climatologist.
“Certainly, in most years we get some impact from tropical storms. It’s not unprecedented. We’ve had other years before, for whatever reason, the weather pattern was set up where all the storms got diverted,” Knox said. “Quite often the years that we don’t have tropical activity are drought years. The early part of this year was quite wet and then we hit about mid-August, and all of a sudden, the heavens stopped and we didn’t get much rain after that. We have gone into drought, and I think that’s partly because we’ve had such a quiet season in the tropics, which usually, 30% or 40% of our rain in the summer is from tropical systems; not necessarily storms but storms that come from the tropics.
“It is unusual.”
It is especially unusual following last year when multiple storms impacted the region. Hurricane Helene moved through Florida and Georgia in late September, with initial damage estimates in Georgia totaling $6.46 billion. Hurricane Milton moved across Florida a few weeks later, impacting fruit and vegetable production. Hurricane Debby left a trek through the Southeast on Aug. 5. All three storms left a financial impact of at least $400 million in Florida.
While the lack of hurricane impact on the Southeast region this year is a welcomed sight for fruit and vegetable growers, producers should remember the tropical season lasts until Nov. 30.
“There’s a caveat in mind that it’s not over yet. It’s less likely we’re going to get something, but we’re not out of the woods, either,” Knox said.