The Atlantic will see more slightly hurricanes this summer than was initially forecast, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday.
Already, NOAA predicted this season will be the strongest in four years. Now about halfway through, meteorologists have edged up their expectations. "Conditions now in place are indicative of a more active hurricane season, such as El Niño ending, weaker vertical wind shear and weaker trade winds over the central tropical Atlantic and a stronger West African monsoon," Gerry Bell, NOAA's lead forecaster, said in a statement.
In May, NOAA predicted a season with 10 to 16 named storms, four to eight hurricanes, and one to four major hurricanes. Meteorologists now expect about one additional named storm. They increased by one the minimum number of hurricanes and major hurricanes forecast.
There have been five named storms and two hurricanes so far. The season runs June to November, and it now enters the most active months.