ORLANDO, Fla. – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Thursday released its predictions for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, days before the official start of the season.
NOAA predicts a “near normal” season and forecasts 12-17 named storms in 2023. Of those, five to nine could be hurricanes and one to four of those could become major hurricanes, reaching Category 3 intensity or greater.
“I’d like to take a moment to remind you now that it’s time to prepare. Remember, it only takes one storm,” NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said.
El Niño is likely to develop this summer, but water temperatures in the Atlantic are already unseasonably warm.
“We know that recent hurricane seasons have been particularly busy, with three back-to-back La Niña events, which only increase the threat of hurricanes,” Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves said during the update.
Graves highlighted hurricanes Ian and Fiona, which brought destruction to southwest Florida and Puerto Rico, respectively. The two names have been retired from the rotating list of names.
The next storm to develop in the Atlantic basin will actually be the second storm of the 2023 hurricane season. During routine reanalysis from the National Hurricane Center, it was discovered a storm off of New England in January had tropical characteristics.
It will go down as an unnamed subtropical storm, but it will technically be the first storm of the season.
Hurricane season officially begins June 1 and runs through Nov. 30.
Arlene is the first name on the 2023 list. Click here to see all of the names for the upcoming hurricane season.
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