NOAA forecasting potential for up to six major hurricanes this season

The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and meteorologists are forecasting a 60% chance of an above-average season.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently released its forecast for the 2020 season, which includes 13-19 named storms – of which between six and 10 could become hurricanes.

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The forecast also includes the potential of 3-6 major hurricanes. Named storms are tropical cyclones that have winds of at least 39 miles per hour.

Hurricanes have winds of 74 mph or greater, and major hurricanes have winds of 111 mph or greater.

The season is forecast to be active based on a number of things, one being the phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation.

The ENSO is forecast to be neutral or develop into a La Niña, a cooling of the equatorial Pacific sea-surface temperatures. This, in turn, helps lead to warmer than average ocean temperatures in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean waters.

A La Niña tends to lead to weaker shear and weaker tropical Atlantic trade winds, both conditions that are more favorable for tropical cyclones to develop.

One last thing NOAA based its forecast on is the enhanced West African monsoon.

Below is the list of tropical names listed so far by NOAA:

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