(NewsNation) — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season will be “above average,” with five major storms and up to 19 named storms.
The season has a 60% chance of being above normal, 30% near normal and 10% below normal, National Weather Service Director Ken Graham announced Thursday.
NOAA predicted between 13 and 19 named storms in the upcoming season. Of the six to 10 expected to become hurricanes, three to five could be major — meaning a Category 3, 4 or 5 storm. The agency has a 70% confidence in the ranges.
The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30. Last week, NOAA predicted a less active hurricane season for the Central Pacific.
Acting NOAA administrator Laura Grimm said that NOAA’s model, the Hurricane Analysis Forecast System, will undergo an upgrade this season that will “further improve tracking of forecasts, which is critical for evacuation efforts.”
According to NOAA data, there were at least 11 hurricanes and 18 named storms in 2024.
The southeast United States saw widespread damage from Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm that hit the Florida Peninsula before traveling through Georgia, the Carolinas and into Tennessee last fall. At least 249 people died, according to government data.
Cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency under President Donald Trump have derailed the agency’s hurricane season plans, according to an internal document obtained by Reuters.
The agency chief said last week that FEMA is well prepared for the season.
When asked about cuts to NWS and related agencies on Thursday, Grimm assured that full focus is on protecting human lives and property through weather prediction.
“We are fully staffed at the Hurricane center, and we definitely are ready to go. We are really making this a top priority for this administration, for NOAA, for the Department of Commerce,” Grimm said. “So, we are very supportive of our National Weather staff.”