The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's
Climate Prediction Center says we're likely to be in for an "above normal"
hurricane season this year, with 13-19 named storms, 6-10 hurricanes and 3-6
major hurricanes of category 3 or higher. A typical season has 12 named storms
and 6 hurricanes, of which 3 become major, according to NOAA. The forecast
isn't surprising, since there had already been two named storms before the season
officially began on June 1, and the third one, Cristobal, formed on June 2. The
season runs through November 30.
Amateur radio operators are preparing as always.
According to the ARRL Letter, WX4NHC – the ham station at the National Hurricane
Center – conducted its annual station test on May 30 and Hurricane Watch Net
Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, said "I'm not liking what I'm seeing,"
noting that the net has activated for nine major land-falling hurricanes in the
past five years, four of which were rated at Category 5, the most intense.