Do you intend to fish off Cuba, Yucatan or the Dominican Republic? This could be blown off your mind: The US Climate agency NOAA predicts an “extremely active” Atlantic hurricane season this year: Up to 13 to 20 tropical storms could be spawn, seven to 11 of which are expected to become hurricanes Do you intend to fish off Cuba, Yucatan or the Dominican Republic? This could be blown off your mind: The US Climate agency NOAA predicts an “extremely active” Atlantic hurricane season this year: Up to 13 to 20 tropical storms could be spawn, seven to 11 of which are expected to become hurricanes. Three to six of the hurricanes could become major at Category 3 or above. The predictions for 2013 are well above the seasonal average of 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes. For the six-month hurricane season, which begins June 1, NOAA’s Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook says there is a 70 percent likelihood of 13 to 20 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 7 to 11 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher). Hurricanes Karl (left), Julia and Igor. Hurricane Karl was the most destructive tropical cyclone to strike the Mexican state of Veracruz on record in 2010. 22 people have been confirmed killed. Preliminary losses from the storm are estimated at 5.6 billion USD. Three climate factors that strongly control Atlantic hurricane activity are expected to come together to produce an active or extremely active 2013 hurricane season. These are: – A continuation of the atmospheric climate pattern, which includes a strong west African monsoon, that is responsible for the ongoing era of high activity for Atlantic hurricanes that began in 1995; – Warmer-than-average water temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea; and – El Niño is not expected to develop and suppress hurricane formation. – “This year, oceanic and atmospheric conditions in the Atlantic basin are expected to produce more and stronger hurricanes,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. “These conditions include weaker wind shear, warmer Atlantic waters and conducive winds patterns coming from Africa.” The death toll from Frankenstorm Sandy as of Nov. 1, 2012 was at least 149. In July, NOAA plans to bring online a new supercomputer that will run an upgraded Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) model that provides significantly enhanced depiction of storm structure and improved storm intensity forecast guidance. So, it might be a better idea to fish the Pacific instead: NOAA’s outlook for the Eastern Pacific basin is for a below-normal hurricane season and the Central Pacific basin is also expected to have a below-normal season. NOAA will issue an updated outlook for the Atlantic hurricane season in early August, just prior to the historical peak of the season.