VIDEO: 2011 Hurricane Season Predicted To Be Busy (NOAA)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center is forecasting an above-normal 2011 Atlantic hurricane season. Across the entire Atlantic basin for the 6-month season, beginning June 1, NOAA is predicting 12 to 18 named storms. Six to 10 of them could become hurricanes, with winds of 74 mph or higher, the agency says.

Each of these ranges has a 70% likelihood and they indicate that the activity will exceed the seasonal average of 11 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes.

“The United States was fortunate last year. Winds steered most of the season’s tropical storms and all hurricanes away from our coastlines,” said Jane Lubchenco, undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “However we can’t count on luck to get us through this season. We need to be prepared, especially with this above-normal outlook.”

NOAA’s seasonal hurricane outlook does not predict where or when any of these storms could hit. Landfall is dictated by weather patterns when the storm approaches.

Next week is National Hurricane Preparedness Week. To help prepare residents of hurricane-prone areas, NOAA is unveiling a new set of video and audio public service announcements that are available in English and Spanish.