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Is Pennsylvania prepared for hurricane season?

  • Scott LaMar/WITF
A Philadelphia police officer rushes to help a stranded motorist during Tropical Storm Isaias, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in Philadelphia. The storm spawned tornadoes and dumped rain during an inland march up the U.S. East Coast after making landfall as a hurricane along the North Carolina coast.

 Matt Slocum / AP Photo

A Philadelphia police officer rushes to help a stranded motorist during Tropical Storm Isaias, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in Philadelphia. The storm spawned tornadoes and dumped rain during an inland march up the U.S. East Coast after making landfall as a hurricane along the North Carolina coast.

Airdate: July 13, 2022

Listen to Smart Talk every weekday at 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. on WITF 89.5 & 93.3. You can also stream WITF radio live on our website or ask your smart speaker to “Play WITF Radio.”

The Atlantic hurricane season ranges from June 1 to November 30.

For the 2022 hurricane season, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting a likely range of 14 to 21 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 6 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). NOAA provides these ranges with a 70% confidence.

Pennsylvania is not on the coast but that doesn’t mean the state won’t be impacted by hurricanes or other severe weather events like flooding.

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department is encouraging Pennsylvanians to be prepared for the summer hurricane season.

Acting State Insurance Commissioner Mike Humphreys is on Wednesday’s Smart Talk with more information.

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