Hurricane map pinpoints 5 areas to be worst hit by barrelling storms – expert predictions

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The Atlantic Hurricane season has historically devastated communities in the Americas, especially those around Latin America and the Caribbean. In 2022, the season delivered little in terms of high-powered storms despite having begun in June, with only three detected so far. But that could soon change, as data has revealed a list of high exposure areas likely to receive the initial brunt from several potential systems.

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The latest tracking information from the National Hurricane Centre (NHC), a wing of the US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), reveals four tropical systems looming in the Atlantic.

They include two tropical depressions, one tropical storm, and a hurricane currently tearing through the oceans off the US east coast.

The only hurricane, Fiona, is currently several hundred miles off the coast of North Carolina and en route to Atlantic Canada, moving north at around 74mph after having killed eight people in the Caribbean.

Forecasters predict it will likely make landfall with a “significant impact” in Canada tonight, causing tropical storm force winds between 39 mph and 73 mph, storm surges and heavy rainfall.

Tropical Storm Gaston, currently looming over the Portuguese Azores in the East Atlantic, is now petering out.

But the NHC has warned island locals to take care during heavy rainfall that could cause landslides.

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Hurricane season 2022 prediction: ‘Significant threat’ as Caribbean braces for hurricane (Image: GETTY)

Hurricane season 2022 prediction: Tropical storms and other systems currently in the Atlantic Ocean (Image: NOAA)

Hurricane season 2022 prediction: Hurricane Fiona is currently headed for Canada (Image: NOAA)

The following five countries have the highest exposure scores:

• Bahamas: 8.8
• Antigua and Barbuda: 8.4
• Cuba: 8.0
• Dominican Republic: 7.9
• Mexico: 7.7

Colombia, Venezuela, Honduras and Guatemala are slightly less at risk, with a score of between 4.0 and 5.9.

Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and El Salvador – despite being close to several high-risk areas – are the least at risk.

Those four nations have lower exposure scores, between 0.0 and 3.9, at the bottom of the scale.

Hurricane season 2022 prediction: Hurricane risks in Latin America and the Caribbean (Image: STATISTA)

He tweeted: "Spaghetti models are in agreement that Invest #98L will track westward across the Caribbean over the next several days.

“By early next week, we could be talking about a hurricane in the NW Caribbean. Everyone along the Gulf Coast needs to pay attention."

The NOAA believes hurricane season will only become more intense in the remaining months of 2022.

In August, NOAA Administrator Dr Rick Spinrad said: "We're just getting into the peak months of August through October for hurricane development, and we anticipate that more storms are on the way.

"NOAA stands ready to deliver timely and accurate forecasts and warnings to help communities prepare in advance of approaching storms."

The NOAA has predicted that before November, people can expect 14 to 20 named storms creating wind speeds greater than 39mph, six to 10 of which could become hurricanes.

Between three and five of those could become named hurricanes boasting winds of 11mph or greater.

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