Experts predict busy Atlantic storm season but not like 2020

May 20, 2021

Associated Press,

(WWAY/AP) — Forecasters expect yet another busy Atlantic hurricane season this year, but they say it won’t be as crazy as 2020.

Thursday’s forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts 13 to 20 named storms. It says 6 to 10 of those will become hurricanes.

NOAA released their 2021 Atlantic basin hurricane forecast today. Another above average season is expected.

Note the change in seasonal averages beginning this year: increased to 14 storms and 7 hurricanes.@helenholt123 @ramelcarpenter @MatthewHWx #WWAY pic.twitter.com/zRIeYZQfcm

— Lee Haywood (@LeeHaywoodWX) May 20, 2021

It forecasts that three to five will be major hurricanes with winds of more than 110 mph. That’s more than the average year. But it’s not like 2020 when forecasters had to dip into the Greek alphabet for names.

Meteorologists say warm water, lack of decapitating winds, no El Nino, and more storm seeds coming from Africa make it likely to be busy.