William Gray Predicts Above Average Hurricane Season.

Eighteen Named storms have been forecasted for this Atlantic Hurricane Season. In their 2013 Hurricane Forecast, Professor Emeritus Dr. William Gray and Dr. Phillip Klotzbach have predicted another above average Hurricane Season. This year's forecast is for 18 named storms of which nine are expected to be Hurricanes with 4 being major hurricanes of categories 3, 5, or 5.

Speaking at the 2013 National Hurricane Conference which concluded in New Orleans, Louisiana late last month Dr. Gray indicated that his team is expecting an above average 2013 Hurricane Season.

He stated that conditions in the tropics look favourable for an above average season of tropical activity. "The only thing I can see that can stop it", Gray said, "is if an El Nino develops for this year, and we don't think that will happen". An average session calls for 12 Named Storms of which 6 will become Hurricanes with 3 Intense Hurricanes of Categories 3, 4 or 5.

In its forecast which was issued today (April 10), the Gray team said, "We anticipate that the 2013 Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season will have enhanced activity compared with the 1981-2010 Climatology.

This April's forecast is based on a statistical methodology derived from 29 years of past data, the Team added. The duo stated, "It appears that the chances of an El Nino event this summer and fall are unlikely".

They added, "We anticipate an above average probability for major hurricanes making landfall along the U. S Coastline and in the Caribbean and remind coastline residents that it only takes one Hurricane making landfall to make it an active season for them.

Coastal residents are being reminded that they need to prepare the same every season regardless of how much or how little activity is predicted.

Dominicans are asked to take note and begin preparatory activities almost immediately.