Featured Stories | Storm Central

By Beth Stibal |

Get ready for an above average 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season, say researchers

Mike Brennan
Hurricane specialist Mike Brennan stands near a radar image of Hurricane Irma with its eye on the coast of Cuba, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017, at the National Hurricane Center in Miami. (AP Photo/Andy Newman)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The start of the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane season is less than two months away and the first forecast was released Thursday by researchers at Colorado State University, and it looks like we can expect another above-average year. Last year’s hurricane season was the most active on record with 30 named storms and six hurricanes hitting the U.S.

Researchers at Colorado State University predict 17 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes in the Atlantic basin this year.

Meteorologist Philip Klotzbach said the reason for the above-average forecast included the predicted lack of an El Niño, which tears apart hurricanes, and a warmer than normal subtropical Atlantic Ocean.

Experts say there’s an “above-average probability” for a major hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland or Caribbean this season with a 45% chance of a major storm, Cat-4 or higher hitting the U.S. East Coast, including Florida.

Meteorologists have eliminated the use of Greek names if there are more than 21 named storms like last year. Instead they have come up with a supplemental list of names.