Government forecasters have released their annual predictions for the Atlantic hurricane season that kicks off June 1st.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, is predicting 14 to 23 major storms with seven becoming major hurricanes.
The active storm season will mean a busy five months for climate scientist as they monitor the Atlantic for signs of developing storms.
"With better satellites and equipment we are having more named storms because they live for a shorter period of time," said Meteorologist Jill Hasling with the Weather Research Center in Houston.
Hasling has studied hurricanes for more than three decades and has her own forecast for the 2010 hurricane season.
"We're only calling for 8 named storms this year with 5 becoming hurricanes," she said.
The prediction is far less than her colleagues with NOAA, but rather than focusing on how many storms will form in the Atlantic, Hasling uses an Orbital Cyclone Strike Index to determine where storms will likely make landfall.
"Our prediction is to give it some idea which coast has the highest risk. This year it's the west coast of Florida with a 90% chance of landfall - tropical storm or hurricane," said Hasling.
The coast with the second highest risk for a tropical storm landfall is Mexico with 70%. Texas comes in third with a 60% chance followed by Louisiana and Alabama with 40%.
Despite the predictions, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett warns the public to be prepared.
"The predictions are all over the place, but frankly as far as we are concerned, we don't pay a lot of attention to the predictions, because Office of Emergency Management just needs to be prepared; all it takes one storm," said Emmett.
Climatologist may not agree on the numbers, but they do agree on the weather phenomenon that will allow storms to form this season.
"Last year, we had an El Nino, which was causing wind shear which was keeping the numbers down, " said Hasling. "The storms could not develop or intensify."
Hurricane season will likely be more active with El Nino weakening and warmer water in the Atlantic for hurricanes to feed on.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, is predicting 14 to 23 major storms with seven becoming major hurricanes.
The active storm season will mean a busy five months for climate scientist as they monitor the Atlantic for signs of developing storms.
"With better satellites and equipment we are having more named storms because they live for a shorter period of time," said Meteorologist Jill Hasling with the Weather Research Center in Houston.
Hasling has studied hurricanes for more than three decades and has her own forecast for the 2010 hurricane season.
"We're only calling for 8 named storms this year with 5 becoming hurricanes," she said.
The prediction is far less than her colleagues with NOAA, but rather than focusing on how many storms will form in the Atlantic, Hasling uses an Orbital Cyclone Strike Index to determine where storms will likely make landfall.
"Our prediction is to give it some idea which coast has the highest risk. This year it's the west coast of Florida with a 90% chance of landfall - tropical storm or hurricane," said Hasling.
The coast with the second highest risk for a tropical storm landfall is Mexico with 70%. Texas comes in third with a 60% chance followed by Louisiana and Alabama with 40%.
Despite the predictions, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett warns the public to be prepared.
"The predictions are all over the place, but frankly as far as we are concerned, we don't pay a lot of attention to the predictions, because Office of Emergency Management just needs to be prepared; all it takes one storm," said Emmett.
Climatologist may not agree on the numbers, but they do agree on the weather phenomenon that will allow storms to form this season.
"Last year, we had an El Nino, which was causing wind shear which was keeping the numbers down, " said Hasling. "The storms could not develop or intensify."
Hurricane season will likely be more active with El Nino weakening and warmer water in the Atlantic for hurricanes to feed on.
