NOAA's 2011 hurricane forecast is in, and they say it'll be busy too

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Hurricane Jeanne

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released the 2011 hurricane outlook report Thursday and are predicting an above-normal hurricane season this year.

Hurricane season officially kicks off on June 1st for the Atlantic Basin and concludes its six-month stint in November. Predicted in the following ranges this year are:

  • 12 to 18 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which: 
  • 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including: 
  • 3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher)

According to the official press release, "Each of these ranges has a 70 percent likelihood, and indicate that activity will exceed the seasonal average of 11 named storms, six hurricanes, and two major hurricanes."

So, with hurricane season just around the corner, there's no better time than now to make sure you're prepared for the worst. Check out our previous post on some helpful hurricane preparedness tips to get started.

And don't forget that Colorado State University's William Gray also predicted an above-average season for 2011.

 

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