Forecasts: 'Normal' 2012 Hurricane Season, a Bit Wimpier Than 2011

"In a year of wild weather so far, hardly anyone would use the word 'normal' in predicting what to expect in the future – except for long-range forecasters talking about the coming hurricane season.

On Thursday, AccuWeather.com predicted a 'near normal' season of hurricanes. To the weather forecasters in State College, Pa., this means 12 named tropical storms, five named hurricanes, and two major hurricanes. If this forecast materializes, it would be a marked improvement over last year, when there were 19 named tropical storms, seven hurricanes, and four major hurricanes, including Irene, which caused $18.7 billion in damage along the East Coast.

'Even though we are forecasting a normal hurricane season, it only takes one hurricane to ruin your day,' says Dan Kottlowski, senior meteorologist and lead hurricane forecaster for AccuWeather."

Ron Scherer reports for the Christian Science Monitoor April 26, 2012.

SEE ALSO:

"2012 Atlantic Seasonal Hurricane Forecast" (Colorado State Univ. Tropical Meteorology Project)

"AccuWeather and WSI Forecast Average Hurricane Season" (Capital Weather Gang/WashPost)

"Experts Say Hurricane Season Will Be Near Average" (USA TODAY)

"Fewer Storms Forecast for 2012 Hurricane Season" (Insurance Journal)

"Weather-Ready Nation: Tampa Bay Chosen To Take Part in New NOAA Weather Disaster Program" (WTSP Tampa TV 10)

The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and ends November 30.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) typically issues its own hurricane forecast during May. It has not yet done so. The NOAA forecast is likely to be found on the sites of the NOAA National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center here or here .

NOAA's hurricane forecast is likely to be improved in several ways this year, and further discussion can be found at the National Hurricane Center here and here .