America could face its most active hurricane season ever

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting between 17 and 25 named storms, of which eight to 13 are expected to be hurricanes and four to seven “major hurricanes” with winds of 111mph (179kph) or higher. That compares with an average of 14 named storms and three major hurricanes between 1991 and 2020. This is the most storms the agency has ever forecast when giving its predictions in May. Other leading forecasters have come to similar conclusions. Weather and emergency-management officials repeated one phrase like a mantra: “be prepared”.