Caribbean Warned 2018 Hurricane Season May Be Worse Than 2017

Meteorologists have warned that this year's hurricane season, which officially runs from June 3 to September 30, will be as bad, or worse, than last year's. Researchers at Colorado State University are predicting seven hurricanes, as well as 14 named storms,  will form this year.

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Meteorologists are also predicting that of the hurricanes; three will fall in the range of category three or five, with a 52 percent chance of a hurricane panning over the Caribbean region. The probability is ten percent higher than last year's estimate.

The forecasters said coastal residents are cognizant of the fact that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active hurricane season for them, according to CNN. Therefore, they must prepare every year regardless of how much activity is predicted by meteorologists.

Dr. Phil Klotzbach, a research scientist at Colorado State University, said "last season had near-record warm sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic,” a factor which contributed to the number of significant hurricanes last year.

Some of the tropical storm names chosen for this year's hurricane season include Alberto, Beryl, Ernesto, Kirk, Nadine, Oscar, Patty, and William.

Last year, hurricanes Irma and Maria, both category five tropical storms, ravished Caribbean countries. Irma, the first to pass through, unleashed its torrential rains and winds on the islands of Barbuda, Saint Barthelemy, St. Martin, Anguilla and the Virgin Islands. Maria, which struck just two weeks later, wrecked havoc on Dominica and Puerto Rico.