The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its outlook for the upcoming season yesterday. According to NOAA this season is likely to be above normal activity with the peak of the season starting mid August and lasting through October.

“Our confidence for an above-normal season is still high because the predicted atmospheric and oceanic conditions that are favorable for storm development have materialized,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. “Also, two of the four named storms to-date formed in the deep tropical Atlantic, which historically is an indicator of an active season.”

The NOAA calls for a 70% chance for each of the following ranges:

13 to 19 named storms (top winds of 39 mph or higher), including
6 to 9 hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or higher), of which
3 to 5 could be major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of at least 111 mph)

For the full story visit: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2013/20130808_atlantichurricaneupdate.html