WILMINGTON—Last year’s Atlantic hurricane season saw plenty of named storms and several destructive ones. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) this year’s season is predicted to be near or above-normal with 10-16 named storms.
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“NOAA’s forecasters predict a 70 percent likelihood of 10 to 16 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 5 to 9 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 1 to 4 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, of which 6 become hurricanes, including 3 major hurricanes,” according to a NOAA press release.
The 2018 Atlantic hurricane season is driven by several factors, including El Niño and sea-surface temperatures.
“With the advances made in hardware and computing over the course of the last year, the ability of NOAA scientists to both predict the path of storms and warn Americans who may find themselves in harm’s way is unprecedented,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “The devastating hurricane season of 2017 demonstrated the necessity for prompt and accurate hurricane forecasts,” according to the release.
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The last major hurricane to cause significant damages to the Cape Fear Region was Hurricane Matthew in 2016, which created severe post-storm flooding.
The 2018 Atlantic tropical cyclone names have also been released by NOAA for the first 21 storms. 
