The six-month 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins
June 1, will be unusually active, according to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
NOAA forecasts 11 to 17 named tropical storms in the region,
which includes the Atlantic, the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.
Of the hurricanes, two to four are predicted to be Category
3 or higher storms with winds exceeding 111 mph.
Tropical Storm Arlene formed in the Atlantic in April. The
next named storms will be Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin and Gert.
An average season produces 12 named storms of which six
become hurricanes. Three become major hurricanes.
The 2016 season spawned 15 named storms. Seven were
hurricanes, and the strongest of the season was Matthew, a Category 5 storm
that devastated Haiti and pummeled parts of the Bahamas.