Hurricane Season Outlook '08 NOAA released its hurricane prediction today for 2008. Everyone is pretty much in agreement that we are going to have an active year. We are coming off a La Nina winter and are not expected to flip to an El Nino anytime soon. El Nino summers retard the development of hurricanes in the Atlantic Basin. Here’s their forecast, its very close to Dr. Gray’s forecast that was issued earlier in the year.

Number of Named Storms: Number of Hurricanes

12 – 16 (Average: 10) 6 – 9 (Average: 5)

Number of Major Hurricanes (Category 3 or higher/winds 111 mph +)

2 – 5 (Average: 2)

Here are some of the names. Remember the World Meteorological Organization derives names from six rotating lists. If a hurricane becomes deadly and or very costly the name is retired.

Arthur Bertha

Cristobal Dolly

Edouard Fay

Gustav Hanna  ¶ 7:27 PM