COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Federal forecasters Thursday called for 13-20 named Atlantic storms this hurricane season, seven to 11 that will strengthen into hurricanes and three to six that will become major hurricanes.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said there is a 70 percent chance that this year will be more active than an average hurricane season. The season starts June 1 and lasts through November.
A normal year has 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major storms with winds topping 110 mph.
Last year was the third-busiest on record with 19 named storms. Ten became hurricanes and two were major storms, including Sandy, even though it lost hurricane status when it made landfall in New Jersey.
The only storm to make it ashore in the U.S. as a hurricane was Isaac, which ended up in Louisiana with 80-mph winds after hitting the Caribbean and threatening the Republican convention in Tampa, Fla.
Front Section, Pages 5 on 05/24/2013