Hurricane Season Started Early but May Not Create as Many Storms

Hurricane Season Started Early but May Not Create as Many Storms
In this handout photo provided by NASA, Hurricane Patricia is seen from the International Space Station. The hurricane made landfall on the Pacfic coast of Mexico on October 23. Photo by Scott Kelly/NASA via Getty Images
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The Atlantic hurricane season may have gotten off to an early start this year, but it’ll probably end with a whimper—at least when it comes to the total number of storms.

Twelve named storms are likely to form in 2018, fewer than last year’s 17 and below the 1981-2010 average, according to a forecast Aug. 2 from Colorado State University. That reduces the chance of Gulf of Mexico disruptions for energy and agriculture. But the outlook is a slight increase from July’s 11 and comes as the Atlantic Basin is about to enter its most active period.