U.S. meteorologists are predicting an above-average hurricane season this year, a new report said Thursday.
“Forecasters predict a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season, and a 10% chance of a below-normal season,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said in a press release.
A normal season, between June 1 and November 30, sees 14 named storms, including seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. This year, NOAA predicts between six and 10 hurricanes, with three to five of them being major.
But these predictions are not close to the historic level of storms seen in 2020, which saw 14 hurricanes — seven of them major.
Still, NOAA warns that residents of coastal areas must remain vigilant through the season.
“It only takes one storm to devastate a community,” said Ben Friedman, acting NOAA administrator.
Lead agency forecaster Matthew Rosencrans said climate change has increased storms’ rainfall about 3%, and he expects an increase to as much as 10% in the future.
Hurricane Laura left some areas of Louisiana and southeastern Texas under water last August, killing dozens.
By the end of the 2020 hurricane season, meteorologists had run out of names and began naming storms by characters of the Greek alphabet.
