Lake O level 30 inches higher than 2022 as hurricane predictions rise

Far warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures are causing hurricane predictors to raise the number of tropical storms expected in coming months, but it's not motiving the man in charge of Lake Okeechobee's elevated water level from lowering it.

The Big Lake’s average depth late last week was 15.31 feet, which is about six inches deeper than last month and 30 inches higher than a year ago.

Hurricane experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration just raised their predictions of from 12 to 17 named storms to 14 to 21. They also boosted the likelihood of the most number of major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher to five.

“We have increased the chance for above normal activity to 60% from 30%,” said Matthew Rosencrans, lead hurricane season forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. “The chances of a below-normal season are now at only 15%.”

Mid-August through mid-October is typically, and roughly, the most active time for hurricanes in the Atlantic basin, timing Rosencrans said lines up with when the agency is prepared for mostly absent hurricanes so far this year to begin forming.