TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - June 1 has passed and that means the 2018 hurricane season has officially begun.
When forecasters say "average hurricane season", they're referring to the likelihood of the number of storms forming between June 1 and November 30.
According to The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an average season produces 12 named storms. Six of those becoming hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.
Sub-tropical Storm Alberto shook things up, making landfall on Florida's Panhandle before the official start of the season.
Despite how it may seem, there's no correlation between tropical activity prior to June 1 and a busy remainder of the hurricane season.
One reason forecasters are agreeing on a normal season, rather than a highly active one, sea-surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean aren't as warm as they would need to be.
However, there's still time for Atlantic water temperatures to warm up and allow stronger storms to start churning this season.
Forecasters with Colorado State University expect 13 named storms, six hurricanes, with two of them being Category 3 or higher.
Last year's results matched forecasters predictions for an extremely active hurricane season.
As for this season, we're already one name down.
