Marina Dock Age

An “active to extremely active hurricane season” is predicted for the Atlantic Basin this year, according to a seasonal outlook issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center, which is a division of the National Weather Service.

For the six-month hurricane season, which began on June 1, NOAA is projecting 14 to 23 named storms (with winds more than 40 mph), of which 8 to 14 will be hurricanes (with top winds of 74 mph or more), and 3 to 7 of the storms could be major hurricanes, that is, category 3,4, or 5 with winds of more than 111 mph.

“If this outlook holds true, this could be one of the more active on record,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “The greater risk of storms brings an increased risk of a landfall. In short, we urge everyone to be prepared.”

The current outlook exceeds the seasonal average of 11 named storms, six hurricanes, and two major hurricanes. NOAA said the factors supporting this outlook are upper atmospheric winds conducive for storms, warm Atlantic Ocean water, and the continuation of a high activity era for storms.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is urging all state and local partners to be prepared for the upcoming season. Individuals can’t control when a hurricane or other emergency may happen, but they can make sure we’re ready for it, said Craig Fugate, FEMA administrator.