The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its 2013 Atlantic hurricane outlook on Thursday with a call to attention for the United States, as six major hurricanes are set to possibly hit the country this year.
"There is a 70 percent likelihood of 13 to 20 named storms... of which [up] to 11 could become hurricanes...including 3 to 6 major hurricanes," the NOAA states in the report.
The storms have the potential to clock winds upward of 74 mph and could be classified as Category 3, 4, or 5, meaning their winds would measure at a minimum of 111 mph.
Presuming all six storms hit the U.S., the activity would put this upcoming hurricane season in the history books as one of the most significant to date. If this were to happen "the NOAA is committed to providing life-saving forecasts in the face of these storms and ensuring that Americans are prepared and ready ahead of time."
The NOAA does stipulate that its outlook does not determine where the storms will hit, or if they will reach land at all. The individual storms and their repercussions are determined by a subdivision of their organization, the National Hurricane Center.
As the East coast still copes with the shattering effects of Hurricane Sandy -- the megastorm that battered much of New Jersey and New York last fall -- it is a wonder how the U.S. will prepare for these potential storms.
"As we saw first-hand with Sandy, it's important to remember that tropical storm and hurricane impacts are not limited to the coastline. Strong winds, torrential rain, flooding, and tornadoes often threaten inland areas far fro where the storm first makes landfall," says Kathryn Sullivan, the NOAA's acting administrator.
The U.S. usually receives an average of three major storms as part of a normal and natural hurricane cycle.
