The 2013 hurricane season predictions are out.
The hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean officially begins June 1 and stretches through November 30. Every year, several weather organizations predict the number of hurricanes and severity of the coming hurricane season.
For 2013, the number of predicted hurricanes is hovering between sixteen and eighteen storms strong enough to be named. Of those, eight or nine are predicted to become hurricanes.
The average number of named storms and hurricanes for the years 1981-2010 are twelve named storms and six hurricanes. 2013 is expected to be an above average year because of unusually warm tropical waters and a low likelihood for the development of an El Nino.
In 2012, nineteen storms were strong enough to be named and ten became hurricanes.
Hurricanes start out as tropical depressions, which are spinning storms with wind speeds less than 39 miles per hour. A tropical storm has wind speeds between 39 miles per house and 74 miles per hour. Hurricanes have wind speeds more than 74 miles per hour. A storm must be at least a tropical storm before it receives a name.
Names to be used for strong storms and hurricanes in the 2013 season are:
- Andrea
- Barry
- Chantal
- Dorian
- Erin
- Fernand
- Gabrielle
- Humberto
- Ingrid
- Jerry
- Karen
- Lorenzo
- Melissa
- Nestor
- Olga
- Pablo
- Rebekah
- Sebastien
- Tanya
- Van
- Wendy
Stormy clouds photo via Shutterstock
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