This hurricane season will be ‘normal,’ NOAA says. Here’s how many storms to expect.

NOAA is forecasting a near normal hurricane season, it announced Thursday.

It predicted 12-17 named storms for the season that begins June 1 and ends November 30. That includes five to nine hurricanes and 1 to 4 major storms, or those Category 3 and above.

An average year means 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

Louisiana was spared last season after two brutal years in a row that saw a couple of the strongest storms ever to make landfall in the state. Those included Hurricane Laura, which ravaged southwest Louisiana, and Hurricane Ida, which tore through the southeast.

But Florida was not as lucky in 2022, with powerful Hurricane Ian taking a heavy toll on the state. 

Officials are reminding residents that, no matter the forecast, preparations are key since it takes only one storm to cause enormous damage and threaten lives.