NOAA lowers chance for hurricanes this season

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has updated its 2018 Atlantic hurricane season outlook lowering the forecasted season to a below normal or normal season.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has updated its 2018 Atlantic hurricane season outlook lowering the forecasted season to a below normal or normal season.

Officials said the downgrading of the forecast is due to conditions in the ocean and the atmosphere.

“There are still more storms to come – the hurricane season is far from being over. We urge continued preparedness and vigilance,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.

There will nine to 13 named storms, four to seven hurricanes and zero to two major hurricanes.

In May, forecasters said there would be 10 to 16 named storms, five to nine will be hurricanes and one to four could become major hurricanes.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs through November 30.