AccuWeather forecasters are already warning of a potentially active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, with conditions aligning for a potentially "blockbuster" season. The upcoming transition from the current El Niño weather pattern to a La Niña pattern is one of the key factors contributing to the forecast. The La Niña pattern is expected to support the development of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic due to reduced wind shear.

Experts predict that the La Niña pattern will become dominant in late summer or early fall, possibly resulting in a slow start to the hurricane season before conditions become more favorable for tropical systems. The official hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 and is forecasted to be very active in the latter part of the season.

Another contributing factor is the extremely warm water temperatures in the Atlantic, which are set to rise further as the days get longer heading into spring and summer. These warm water temperatures act as fuel for hurricanes and could potentially lead to a record-breaking warmth across the Atlantic hurricane basin.

AccuWeather is scheduled to release its full hurricane season forecast in March, while Colorado State University will release their forecast on April 4. The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center typically releases its first hurricane season forecast in late May.

The 2023 hurricane season was exceptionally active, with a total of 20 named storms, seven of which were hurricanes and three intensified into major hurricanes. This high number of storms was attributed to the record-warm temperatures in the Atlantic waters, a trend that experts believe could continue into the 2024 season.