The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration – NOAA – is predicting a "near normal" Atlantic
hurricane season this year, with between 9 and 15 named storms, of which 4 to 8
might become hurricanes, half of which could become major hurricanes (category 3
or higher). The forecast from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center does not predict
the possibility of landfalls. Forecasters say competing climate factors will likely cancel out each other's effects, leading to the likelihood of an average season. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 of each year.