Forecasters Expect Overactive 2021 Hurricane Season With 17 Named Storms

Forecasters Expect Overactive 2021 Hurricane Season With 17 Named Storms

Forecasters are expecting another overactive hurricane season for the Atlantic, after last year's record-breaking season. 

Colorado State University (CSU) released its 2021 Atlantic hurricane season forecast on Thursday morning and is predicting another above-average season this year.

CSU is calling for 17 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher). 

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Each of these numbers is above the typical season average of 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes.

However, seasonal averages are in the process of being updated, according to Ken Graham, director of the National Hurricane Center (NHC), reported CNN. 

"We will have those new averages going into the season. In fact, over the next couple of weeks we are going to release that information," Graham says.

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The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season finished with a total of 30 named storms -- the most in any year on record. People along the coastline from Texas to Maine were affected by at least one named storm that season. But the post-season brought about some significant changes, including the retirement of three individual storm names, as well as the entire list of back up names, CNN continued. 

The World Meteorological Organization's Hurricane Committee held its annual meeting last month to discuss past hurricane seasons and update its operational plans.