NOAA Announces Outlook for 2018 Tropical Season

news image
Special Stories
24 May 2018 9:36 AM
After an incredibly active and damaging 2017 tropical season, the outlook is in for this year from NOAA. NOAA issued their seasonal forecast Thursday morning from Lakeland, Florida, calling for an average season. NOAA anticipates 10-16 named systems will form this season, with 5-9 of those becoming hurricanes, and of those, 3 becoming major hurricanes. https://twitter.com/NOAA/status/999673689405886464 NOAA stresses that these forecasts do not account for the strength of systems, nor the impacts they may pose to land. The possibility of a weak El Niño developing, along with near-average sea-surface temperatures across the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, are two of the factors driving this outlook. NOAA also released their Pacific season outlook Wednesday, you can read more here. WeatherNation  spoke with the lead seasonal forecaster, Dr. Gerry Bell, Thursday afternoon to discuss the outlook. https://youtu.be/I2F-ZvdylCg Right on cue, as hurricane season officially begins next week, June 1, we are already monitoring a tropical disturbance in the Gulf Of Mexico. Click here to learn more.   Also, join us for Hurricane Prep Week all next week on WeatherNation.
All Weather News
More
Active Pattern Takes Shape Across the Plains

Active Pattern Takes Shape Across the Plains

The active pattern sticks around the plains.

14 Sep 2026 6:25 PM
Tropics: Power Restoration Progresses in Kauai, Norbert & Fifteen-E Track West

Tropics: Power Restoration Progresses in Kauai, Norbert & Fifteen-E Track West

The Pacific Ocean has been incredibly active

14 Sep 2026 6:20 PM
Rounds of Storms Increase the Flood Threat in the Midwest

Rounds of Storms Increase the Flood Threat in the Midwest

It's no secret that the Midwest has been the

14 Sep 2026 6:15 PM
Summer Heat Holds it's Grip on the South

Summer Heat Holds it's Grip on the South

Fall may be getting closer on the calendar, b

14 Sep 2026 6:00 PM
No Hurricanes Yet in the Atlantic, A New Record

No Hurricanes Yet in the Atlantic, A New Record

For the first time in the satellite era (sinc

14 Sep 2026 1:30 PM
Storms Winding Down Across Northeast

Storms Winding Down Across Northeast

WHAT TO EXPECT Record rainfall has fallen acr

14 Sep 2026 1:10 AM
High Heat & Humidity Across the Southwest

High Heat & Humidity Across the Southwest

Temperatures not only broke records on Wednes

10 Sep 2026 11:10 AM