Each year, NOAA provides an outlook for the coming hurricane season and this year is no different. -sadly we got a big reminder of this over the past week! Several weeks ago NOAA released details of their forecast for the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season calling for an above-average season for the year. So what does this mean?

Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the season – June 1 to November 30 – NOAA’s updated seasonal outlook projects a total (which includes the activity-to-date of tropical storms Alberto, Beryl, Debbie, Florence and hurricanes Chris and Ernesto) of:

• 12 to 17 named storms (top winds of 39 mph or higher), including:
• 5 to 8 hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or higher), of which:
• 2 to 3 could be major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of at least 111 mph)

The numbers are higher from the initial outlook in May, which called for 9-15 named storms, 4-8 hurricanes and 1-3 major hurricanes. Based on a 30-year average, a normal Atlantic hurricane season produces 12 named storms, six hurricanes, and three major hurricanes. See details of the outlook HERE

A reminder, for preparation tips visit www.ready.gov