NOAA's outlook for the season is 13-20 tropical storms and 7-11 hurricanes, with 3-6 of those possibly becoming major hurricanes. They say it could be an "extreme" or "hyperactive" season.
NOAA says these numbers are well above the seasonal average of 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.
One of the things NOAA takes into consideration is a global look at water temperatures in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, says ABC13 Meteorologist Travis Herzog. He says there is already warm water in the tropical Atlantic Ocean, which may signal the possibility of more storms and stronger storms.
In the western Gulf of Mexico, we're currently seeing cooler water temps due to the mild spring, but that has no bearing on the upcoming season, according to Herzog.
NOAA stresses that it's seasonal hurricane outlook is not a hurricane landfall forecast; it does not predict how many storms will hit land or where a storm will strike.
This year's names: Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dorian, Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Ingrid, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van and Wendy.
