MIAMI – The 2013 hurricane season begins June 1 and the government predicted on Thursday it will be a very active season.
The outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says there is a 70 percent likelihood of 13 to 20 named storms.
Recommended Videos
NOAA predicts 7 to 11 of those storms could become hurricanes, including 3 to 6 major hurricanes.
"It's not all about the numbers," said Local 10 Hurricane Specialist Max Mayfield. "It only takes that one hurricane over our community to make for a bad year. We need to be prepared."
These ranges are well above the seasonal average of 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.
"With the devastation of Sandy fresh in our minds, and another active season predicted, everyone at NOAA is committed to providing life-saving forecasts in the face of these storms and ensuring that Americans are prepared and ready ahead of time." said Kathryn Sullivan, NOAA acting administrator.
This year's names: Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dorian, Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Ingrid, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van and Wendy.
Three climate factors are expected to produce this active season, including a climate pattern responsible for an era of high activity that began in 1995; warmer-than-average water temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea; and, El Niño is not expected to develop and suppress hurricane formation.