NOAA Adjusts Hurricane Season Forecast

NOAA has trimmed its forecast for the season, but warns that they still expect above average activity this year, despite the slow start. An average season has 11 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes. NOAA's current predictions call for 12 to 15 named storms, 7 to 9 hurricanes, and 3 or 4 major hurricanes. So far, there have only been 3 tropical storms and no hurricanes, but the peak of the hurricane season is just starting (most tropical systems form from August to October). As I mentioned in my previous post, there are some systems moving out of Africa that bear watching. The strongest hurricanes tend to originate off the coast of Africa because they have plenty of time to gather strength as they cross the ocean. Wind shear is a little high in the mid-Atlantic at the moment, but it looks like that may change in a couple of days.