Experts Predict Normal Atlantic Hurricane Season

(May 23) Forecasters from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration expect a “normal” hurricane season.

An announcement about the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season, which officially starts June 1st and continues through November 30th, was made at the Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, May 21st.

Predictions for the upcoming hurricane season include an expected nine to fourteen tropical storms in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.  Tropical storms typically have wind speeds of 39 miles per hour and can develop into hurricanes when the wind speeds increase to 74 miles per hour.  The researchers forecast that four to seven of the tropical storms will become hurricanes, with one to three “major” hurricanes.  “Major hurricanes” classify as storms with wind speeds exceeding 111 miles per hour.

The average Atlantic hurricane season has eleven named storms including six hurricanes with two reaching “major” hurricane status.

Stay posted for additional updates about hurricane season in the Caribbean.