NOAA predicts a ‘near-normal’ hurricane season. But that’s not good news

The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1, will be “near-normal” according to the annual forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

This is the first time in eight years that the May outlook hasn't forecast an above-average number of storms. NOAA is predicting 12 to 17 named storms, which includes both tropical storms and hurricanes. About half of those are expected to be full-blown hurricanes. Not all storms make landfall.

Still, federal officials warn that people who live in hurricane-prone areas should not focus too much on the total number of storms.

"Remember it only takes one storm to devastate a community," says Rick Spinrad, who leads NOAA. "It's time to prepare."

That means making a plan for how to evacuate if a storm is headed your way, getting ready for power outages and thinking about how to care for elderly family members, people with disabilities, children and pets.