Spanish
Miami.- The Atlantic hurricane season will have up to 10 hurricanes and 19 named storms this year, above the historical average, according to a forecast released this Thursday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States.
The projection, which this government agency makes every May, reflects that this year there would be a total of between six and 10 hurricanes, of which between three and five would be major, in addition to 13 to 19 named storms, that is, with sustained winds greater than 62 kilometers per hour.
"We are predicting an above-average season, once again, in 2025. Specifically, there is a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of near-normal, and only a 10% chance of below-normal," explained Ken Graham, director of the National Weather Service (NWS), in a conference.
In hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, the cyclones Andrés, Barry, Chantal, Dexter, Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Imelda, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebeka, Sebastien, Tanya, Van and Wendy would form, according to NOAA.
The season will be above the annual average of 14 storms and seven hurricanes due to factors such as warming oceans, Graham explained.
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"Warmer ocean temperatures are really consistent with being in a more active season, in an active period of time or a more active time associated with hurricane activity," he indicated.
This estimate comes after a 2024 season that was also higher than usual, with 18 storms and 11 hurricanes, including five that impacted the United States, with Helene as the largest of them, as it left more than 200 deaths in southern states of the country, such as Georgia, Florida and North Carolina.
The Budget Cut Storm
The hurricane projection was presented hours after the approval by the House of Representatives of President Donald Trump's budget, which includes an annual cut of almost 30% to NOAA and $646 million to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
In addition, since March, the Trump Administration asked NOAA for an additional cut of 1,000 workers, 20% of the workforce.
NOAA's interim administrator, Laura Grimm, stated in response to the press's insistence that the cuts do not affect the forecasts and that the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has its "full" staff.
"Our main priority is climate prediction, models, and protecting human lives. We are with the full staff at the hurricane center and we are definitely ready to start," said the official.
The 2025 forecast was announced from Louisiana to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which, with 1,392 attributed deaths, is among the five deadliest tropical cyclones in United States history.
