NPR

The 2019 Hurricane Season Will Be 'Near Normal.' But Normal Can Still Be Devastating

NOAA forecasts that two to four major hurricanes will form this year in the Atlantic. But even an average year can cause record-breaking damage, as storms get bigger and wetter.
Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina on Sept. 14, 2018. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts that two to four major hurricanes will form in the Atlantic during the 2019 hurricane season, which begins June 1.

Federal weather forecasters are predicting a "near normal" number of storms this hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 1.

Between nine and 15 named storms, including includes tropical storms, are predicted to form in the Atlantic this year, said Neil Jacobs, acting administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Of those,

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR4 min read
The Jump In Measles Cases In 2023 Is 'Very Concerning' Says WHO Official
And the numbers in 2024 aren't looking any better. Why is this highly infectious disease on the rise? And how can it be tamed?
NPR6 min read
8 Tracks: Beyond The Grave, Johnny Cash Still Shows Us How To Make Music
A new Johnny Cash song got NPR Music producer Lars Gotrich thinking about music released after a beloved artist dies. Check out "Well Alright," plus new music by Arooj Aftab and Tems on 8 Tracks.
NPR5 min read
As National Poetry Month Comes To A Close, 2 New Retrospectives To Savor
April always brings some of the years' biggest poetry collections. So as it wraps up, we wanted to bring you two favorites — retrospective collections from Marie Howe and Jean Valentine.

Related Books & Audiobooks