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
Temperature Whiplash for the Weekend

Temperature Whiplash for the Weekend

The first days of January have brought many r

11 Jan 2026 12:25 PM
Another Round of Ice and Snow for the Northeast This Weekend

Another Round of Ice and Snow for the Northeast This Weekend

The Northeastern U.S. has been one of the mor

11 Jan 2026 12:20 PM
Rounds of Snow Returning to the Midwest

Rounds of Snow Returning to the Midwest

After the last system brought heavy rainfall

11 Jan 2026 12:15 PM
Looking Ahead to the Next Week's Pattern

Looking Ahead to the Next Week's Pattern

After an active week of severe weather in the

11 Jan 2026 12:05 PM
One Year Later: Palisades and Eaton Fires

One Year Later: Palisades and Eaton Fires

It has been one year since the Palisades and

11 Jan 2026 2:05 AM
Severe Threat Has Ended in the South

Severe Threat Has Ended in the South

Outlooks & TimingFriday night and Saturda

10 Jan 2026 8:30 PM
Snow Returns to Ski Country

Snow Returns to Ski Country

It's been a slow start to the ski season for

8 Jan 2026 1:45 AM