The 2017 Atlantic Ocean hurricane season could have an above-normal number of hurricanes this year. The Climate Prediction Center at NOAA predicts a 70% likelihood of 5 to 9 hurricanes with 2 to 4 of them being major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5).
Strong wind shear reduces the development of the number and strength of tropical storms that grow into hurricanes, whereas weak wind shear increases hurricane development. There is a significantly reduced upper atmosphere wind shear predicted for the 2017, which points to more numerous and stronger hurricanes this season.
2017 Atlantic Tropical Storm / Cyclone Names
Arlene: Tropical Storm off Newfoundland (April 19 – April 21)
Bret: Tropical Storm from Mid-Atlantic Ocean to Venezuela (June 19 – June 20)
Cindy: Tropical Storm from Honduras to Louisiana (June 20 – June 23)
Don: Tropical Storm off Venezuela (July 17 – July 19)
Emily: Tropical Storm passed through Florida (July 31)
Franklin: Category 1 Hurricane passed through Southern Mexico (August 6-10)
Gert: Tropical Storm off Bahamas (August 13)
Harvey: Tropical Storm passes through Caribbean and Central America. Category 4 hurricane hits Texas (August 18-26)
Irma: Category 5 hurricane in Caribbean (August 31 – September 8)
Jose: Tropical Storm in Eastern Atlantic (September 5)
Katia
Lee
Maria
Nate
Ophelia
Philippe
Rina
Sean
Tammy
Vince
Whitney