US Atlantic hurricane season officially begins

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season officially began Tuesday with forecasters warning of an "above average" amount of looming storms.

There has already been one named storm before the official start of the season with Ana forming in the Atlantic Ocean in late May.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced last month that it is forecasting a 60% chance the US would experience an "above-normal" Atlantic hurricane season but cautioned "experts do not anticipate the historic level of storm activity seen in 2020."

NOAA is expecting between 13 to 20 named storms, including six to 10 that could become hurricanes. Of those, three to five are expected to become major hurricanes of category three, four or five.

The hurricane season runs June 1 to Nov. 30.

The National Hurricane Center published on Tuesday its list of storm names, which includes Ana, Bill, Claudette, Danny, Elsa, Fred, Grace, Henri, Ida, Julian, Kate, Larry, Mindy, Nicholas, Odette, Peter, Rose, Sam, Teresa, Victor and Wanda.