NOAA Predicts Above Normal Atlantic Hurricane Season

Posted on May 21, 2011

NOAA is forecasting an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. NOAA is predicting the following ranges this year:

12 to 18 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which:
6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including:
3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher) Each of these ranges has a 70 percent likelihood, and indicate that activity will exceed the seasonal average of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.

The season officially begins June 1st, although the peak of the season is not until September as you can see in the chart below. The image above shows Hurricanes Karl, Igor and Julia from September 16, 2010.

HURRICANES