Sea surface temperatures across the Gulf of Mexico are running two to three degrees Fahrenheit above average for mid-April, according to data released by NOAA on Tuesday. The warm waters, which extend from the western Gulf off the Texas coast to the Loop Current near the Florida Keys, have raised early concerns among hurricane forecasters.
The elevated temperatures are significant because warm Gulf waters serve as the primary fuel source for tropical cyclones that threaten the U.S. Gulf Coast. Waters above 80 degrees Fahrenheit can sustain and intensify hurricanes, and portions of the Gulf have already reached that threshold weeks ahead of the historical norm.
While warm April sea temperatures do not guarantee an active hurricane season, they create favorable conditions for rapid intensification of any tropical systems that develop over the Gulf during the summer and fall months. Emergency management officials along the Gulf Coast are using the data to reinforce preparedness messaging ahead of the June 1 hurricane season start.
