The 2015 Hurricane Season Has Officially Begun

by Patricia A. Miller

Here’s hoping the experts’ predictions about the 2015 hurricane season are right.

Monday marked the start of the 2015 hurricane season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting a below-normal hurricane season, but warns coastal residents to continue to prepare for a major storm.

NOAA is predicting a 70 percent likelihood of six to 11 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which three to six could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including zero to two major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher), according to the website.

Although a below-normal season is likely, there is also a 20 percent chance of a near normal season and a 10 percent chance of an above-normal season, NOAA states.

“A below-normal season doesn’t mean we’re off the hook. As we’ve seen before, below-normal seasons can still produce catastrophic impacts to communities,” said NOAA Administrator Kathryn Sullivan, Ph.D.,

She referred to the 1992 season in which only seven named storms formed. One of them was Hurricane Andrew - – a Category 5 Major Hurricane that devastated South Florida.