Hurricane season begins next weekend, and forecasters are keeping an eye on a tropical wave expected to form just north of Hispaniola.
While the conditions are not favorable for development as it moves to the northeast, NOAA forecasters are confident this is just the beginning.
It's forecasting between 17 to 25 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). Eight to 13 of them could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), and four to seven of those growing to major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher).
This is the greatest number of storms predicted in NOAA's May forecast.
The previous highest was in 2010 when they called for 14-23 named storms, 8-14 hurricanes, and 3-7 majors.
Researchers point to near record Atlantic Ocean temperatures and La Nina expected in August and September.
With another active hurricane season approaching, NOAA’s commitment to keeping every American informed with life-saving information is unwavering,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “AI-enabled language translations and a new depiction of inland wind threats in the forecast cone are just two examples of the proactive steps our agency is taking to meet our mission of saving lives and protecting property.”
Last season hurricanes caused about $4-billion in damage in the contiguous U.S.
This afternoon Miami-Dade's Mayor will join the Emergency Management Director to stress the importance of staying vigilant for not only hurricane season, potentially flooding and extreme heat.