COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday forecasters predict an above-normal 2017 hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean.
The season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.
Forecasters said they predict between 11 and 17 tropical storms this year, and between five and nine of those storms will become hurricanes. They said that of those hurricanes that form, between two and four of those will become major hurricanes, meaning they reach category 3 strength or higher.
The forecast makes no predictions about the number of storms that will make landfall.
There has already been one named storm in the Atlantic this year. Tropical Storm Arlene formed in April.
Federal officials urged residents who live along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts to prepare for a hurricane now. They said residents should assemble an emergency kit, familiarize themselves with evacuation routes, develop a communication plan and check that they are covered under the appropriate level of insurance.
A major hurricane has not made landfall in the U.S. since Hurricane Wilma in 2005. That same year, four major hurricanes hit the U.S.
Track the tropics any time by visiting the Hurricane Headquarters page of Click2Houston.com or by downloading the KPRC 2 Hurricane Tracker app on Apple or Android devices.