Many Hurricanes

Consistent with expectations in a year when La Nina dominated the Pacific in summer, the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season was especially active, with 19 named storms and 12 hurricanes. Fortunately, though these tallies approached record levels, relatively few hit land to cause loss of life and property. The Pacific hurricane season, meanwhile, had just seven named storms, three of them hurricanes – the fewest on record since the 1960s. How global warming influences hurricane frequency or intensity is still actively debated by reputable scientists.

In this Image: Hurricane Earl, which was a Category 4 hurricane in the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season.