Hurricane Experts Downgrade Predictions

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.