Update: 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook

NOAA has updated the 2016 hurricane season outlook for the Atlantic Ocean, saying there is a higher chance of a near-normal or above-normal season.

Forecasters say they are now expecting 12-17 named storms, 5-8 hurricanes, and 2-4 major hurricanes. NOAA keeps an eye on three factors that help them forecast the hurricane season, wind shear, trade winds, and this year, El Niño. Gerry Bell, the lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center says that they have increased the numbers from the previous outlook because El Niño has ended and there is weaker vertical wind shear and weaker trade winds over the central tropical Atlantic.

So far, there have been five named storms, two which became hurricanes (Alex and Earl). NOAA reports that four made landfall, Bonnie (South Carolina), Colin (Florida), Danielle (Mexico), and Earl (Belize and Mexico).