NOAA predicts 'another above-normal' Atlantic hurricane season

Prepare for "another above-normal" Atlantic hurricane season, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The NOAA on Thursday said it's predicting a 60 percent chance of an "above-normal" 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, with a likely range of between 13 and 20 named storms, six to 10 of which could become hurricanes. The season, which begins on June 1, could also see between three and five major hurricanes. An average hurricane season sees 14 named storms with seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes, according to the agency.

This comes after 2020's Atlantic hurricane season became the most active ever recorded with 30 named storms and seven major hurricanes. The good news, acting NOAA administrator Ben Friedman said, is that "scientists don't expect this season to be as busy as last year." Still, this would be the sixth above-average Atlantic hurricane season in a row, The Washington Post reports. The Post also notes that last year's NOAA outlook was "almost identical" to this one but ended up being "too conservative."

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While a less active season than last year is currently expected, Friedman warned that it "only takes one storm to devastate a community," while Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said, "Now is the time for communities along the coastline as well as inland to get prepared for the dangers that hurricanes can bring."