Be Prepared: Experts Predict Another Busy Hurricane Season

HOUSTON, TX — The Houston area is still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Harvey, so it’s hardly welcome news that 2018 will be another busy hurricane season.

In 2017, names like Harvey, Irma and Maria were etched into the minds of American and Puerto Rican residents who bore the brunt of the wrath from these storms over a span of 30 days.

(For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

For 2018, 14 named tropical storms are predicted to form, with seven strengthening into hurricanes, and three of those major hurricanes, according to a CNN report.

Phil Klotzbach, a meteorologist at Colorado State University, as well as other meteorologist, made the predictions for the hurricane season and indicated last year’s prediction of 12 named storms was too low.

Last year, meteorologists predicted 10 named tropical storms, with four becoming hurricanes.

However, there were 17 storms last year.

The average number of tropical storms predicted each year is usually 12.

Hurricane season begins on June 1, and ends Nov. 30.

However, sometimes storms can form outside those parameters.

In 2017, the upper Texas coast was hit by Tropical Storm Cindy, causing minor damage in Beaumont.

One never knows, it seems.

Later this month, Texas residents will be able to purchase emergency supplies tax free.

You can find that list of supplies, and the dates for the tax free weekend here.

Accuweather released their storm predictions earlier this week, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will issue its forecast in May.

Image: Shutterstock, Geocolor images of Hurricane Irma

Send your news tips to bryan.kirk@patch.com