Environment

A 2016 La Niña Could Spawn a High Number of Atlantic Hurricanes

NOAA has issued a “La Niña Watch” for its probable arrival in summer or early fall.
An infrared satellite view of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.NASA

The eastern half of the U.S. lucked out last year with a below-average Atlantic hurricane season—only four such tempests, compared to the historical average of six.

But with models forecasting the development of a strong La Niña, 2016 could ring in a higher number of hurricanes, delivering the usual problems like beach erosion and urban flooding.