Atlantic to See Up to 16 Storms This Year, AccuWeather Says

The Atlantic hurricane season is expected to produce 11 to 16 named storms, near the long-term average, with the highest risks along the northern and eastern portions of the US Gulf Coast and the Carolinas, AccuWeather Inc. said.

Of those, four to seven are forecast to become hurricanes with winds of at least 74 miles (119 kilometers) per hour, including two to four major systems exceeding winds of 111 mph, the commercial forecaster said in its annual seasonal outlook. Storms receive names once winds reach tropical-storm strength of 39 mph.