The Atlantic hurricane season is still officially two months away but already one forecast is out, warning of a potentially volatile year in which storms could form early.
Hurricane experts with AccuWeather released their predictions Wednesday, calling for 13 to 18 named storms to form in the Atlantic with as many as six directly impacting the United States.
What’s more, they expect at least seven to 10 of those storms to become full blown hurricanes with three to five intensifying into category three hurricanes or even stronger.
“Everyone needs to start planning and preparing for hurricane season,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said in a press release.
“Climatology, weather patterns, water temperatures, and many other factors all point to yet another active Atlantic hurricane season with more tropical storms and hurricanes forming, compared to the historical average.”
What’s more, forecasters say warmer ocean temperatures could fuel storms to form as early as May and help them grow quickly just before they hit the coast. They’ve named five areas that face a higher risk of direct impact, including Texas, Louisiana, the western coast of Florida, North Carolina and Atlantic Canada.
Last year, AccuWeather says five hurricanes and one unnamed subtropical storm made landfall in the U.S. causing an estimated $500 billion dollars in damage and economic loss. Hurricane season lasts from June 1st through November 30th.
