We could see above-normal Atlantic hurricane activity this year, weather forecasters say.


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In their annual Atlantic hurricane season outlook released Thursday morning, forecasters said there's a 45 percent chance of an above-normal hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. There's a 35 percent chance of a near-normal season and 20 percent chance of below-normal activity.

They said there's a high likelihood (70 percent) that there could be 11 to 17 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher) in the Atlantic, of which five to nine could become hurricanes (74 mph or higher). Two to four could be classified as major hurricanes (Categories 3 to 5).

An average Atlantic season sees about 12 named storms (six hurricanes, three major hurricanes).

The annual outlook takes into consideration the strength of El Nino, sea-surface temperatures in the Atlantic and Caribbean sea and vertical wind shear.

This year's predicted numbers include Tropical Storm Arlene, a rare preseason storm that formed in the far east Atlantic in April.