Thu Aug 9, 2012 9:07pm IST
MIAMI Aug 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. weather agency NOAA raised its outlook for the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season on Thursday and now expects near-normal to above-normal activity.
Forecasters expect the June-through-November season will bring 12 to 17 tropical storms, with five to eight of those becoming hurricanes and two to three strengthening into "major hurricanes."
That was an increase from the May forecast, when the agency predicted there would be nine to 15 tropical storms, with four to eight becoming hurricanes and one to three strengthening into major hurricanes. Major hurricanes have sustained winds of 111 miles per hour (178 km per hour) or higher and can cause devastating damage.
There have already been six tropical storms this year, two of which became hurricanes.
Sea-surface temperatures are higher than usual in the Atlantic region, which contributes to hurricane formation.
And although the hurricane-squelching El Nino pattern is still expected, it has not appeared yet. The forecasters said it would likely form in August or September.
"We don't expect El Nino's influence until later in the season," said Gerry Bell, lead hurricane season forecaster for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
MIAMI Aug 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. weather agency NOAA raised its outlook for the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season on Thursday and now expects near-normal to above-normal activity.
Forecasters expect the June-through-November season will bring 12 to 17 tropical storms, with five to eight of those becoming hurricanes and two to three strengthening into "major hurricanes."
That was an increase from the May forecast, when the agency predicted there would be nine to 15 tropical storms, with four to eight becoming hurricanes and one to three strengthening into major hurricanes. Major hurricanes have sustained winds of 111 miles per hour (178 km per hour) or higher and can cause devastating damage.
There have already been six tropical storms this year, two of which became hurricanes.
Sea-surface temperatures are higher than usual in the Atlantic region, which contributes to hurricane formation.
And although the hurricane-squelching El Nino pattern is still expected, it has not appeared yet. The forecasters said it would likely form in August or September.
"We don't expect El Nino's influence until later in the season," said Gerry Bell, lead hurricane season forecaster for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.