Hurricane Experts Downgrade Predictions

There's a 95 percent chance Senior Editor Christine Sarkis is thinking about travel right now. Follow her on Instagram @postcartography and Twitter @ChristineSarkis.

Christine Sarkis is an SATW-award-winning journalist and executive editor at SmarterTravel. Her stories have also appeared on USA Today, Conde Nast Traveler, Huffington Post, and Business Insider. Her advice has been featured in dozens of print and online publications including The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, and People magazine. She has also shared travel tips on television and radio shows including Good Morning America, Marketplace, and Here & Now. Her work has been published in the anthologies Spain from a Backpack and The Best Women's Travel Writing 2008. She is currently working on a travel memoir.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: The Trtl Pillow. It's easy to pack and comfortable, and makes it so I can actually sleep on flights.

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Seeing the Aurora Borealis from the comfort of somewhere warm, like a glass igloo or hot spring.

Travel Motto: Curiosity is an amazing compass.

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: Aisle all the way.

Email Christine Sarkis at editor@smartertravel.com.

See recent posts by Christine Sarkis

Each spring, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Tropical Meteorology Project at Colorado State University announce their predictions for activity during the upcoming hurricane season.

In June, I reported that NOAA had called for a 50-percent probability of a near normal season, and a 25-percent chance of a below-normal hurricane season. However, it has now updated its prediction, saying there’s a 40-percent probability of a below normal season. That breaks down to a 70 percent chance of three to six hurricanes, including one or two category 3 or higher hurricanes.

So the short of it is this: There may be fewer storms this season, but when it comes to hurricanes, it’s always better to prepare for the worst. The Tropical Meteorology Project has 15-day forecasts during August, September, and October, that can be helpful if you’re planning a trip to hurricane-prone areas.

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.