The forecast number of named storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes are all higher than the 30-year historical average.
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00:00 Accuweather's hurricane experts say this hurricane season could be a busy one in the Atlantic Basin.
00:07 The forecasted number of named storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes are all higher than the 30-year historical average.
00:14 Accuweather is calling for 20 to 25 named storms, 8 to 12 of those expected to turn into hurricanes,
00:20 4 to 7 major hurricanes, now that's category 3 or above, and we're expecting 4 to 6 direct impacts on the United States.
00:28 Alex Da Silva, Accuweather's lead hurricane expert, he says there are many factors at play in this year's hurricane season forecast,
00:37 including the status of El Nino, which is a weather pattern caused by warmer than normal waters in the Pacific Ocean.
00:44 When the waters are cooler than normal, it's known as a La Nina.
00:47 Currently, we're in an El Nino pattern, but Da Silva says a transition to La Nina is coming.
00:53 Typically, La Ninas yield more tropical systems across the Atlantic, and that is because La Ninas are typically associated with a reduction in vertical wind shear.
01:02 Da Silva says sea surface temperatures of 80 degrees or higher are favorable for tropical development,
01:08 and it looks like those conditions will exist across the basin for most of the season.
01:13 Sea surface temperatures across a majority of the Atlantic Basin are well above historical averages.
01:18 Essentially, this is going to be rocket fuel by the time we get to the hurricane season for tropical development throughout the season.
01:24 The Texas coast, the Florida Panhandle, South Florida, and the Carolinas are the areas at greatest risk for direct impacts this season in the United States.
01:33 While peak hurricane season isn't until September, Da Silva says now is the time to prepare.
01:39 You want to have a plan in place in case a hurricane threatens your area,
01:43 and we don't always have the luxury of watching storms come across the Atlantic days and days in advance.
01:48 Sometimes storms can form very close to the shore, which gives you very little time to prepare.
01:53 For more on AccuWeather's hurricane season forecast, visit accuweather.com.
01:58 For AccuWeather, I'm Lincoln Riddle.
02:00 [CRACKLING THUNDER]