The National Hurricane Center is gearing up for what's expected to be an extremely active season.
The start of the season appears to be somewhat quiet, as the NHC does not expect development over the next seven days. The agency's director, Dr. Michael Brennan, still urges people to do their homework now.
"You have to know your risk. That's the first step to getting prepared for hurricane season. Know if you live in a storm surge evacuation zone that forms the foundation of your entire hurricane preparedness plan," said Brennan.
NOAA has issued an initial forecast of 17-25 named storms, with 8-13 becoming hurricanes, 4-7 of those reaching major hurricane strength (category 3 or higher). Forecasters at Colorado State University have shown similar findings, calling for 23 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and 5 major hurricanes.
The average hurricane season sees 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.
Brennan says rapidly intensifying storms are a real concern.
"We have better tools, better data from the Hurricane Hunter aircraft that are getting into our models and that's giving our forecasters here the confidence to make more aggressive intensity forecasts to set the stage and the expectations properly for those hazards, especially the storm surge hazards," he added.
About 85-90 percent of tropical system deaths in the U.S. are caused by rainfall flooding, storm surge, and surf and rip currents. By mid-August the Hurricane Center is set to debut an experimental cone that includes the inland extent of tropical storm watches and warnings.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs through the end of November.