Meteorologists forecast 'extremely' active Atlantic hurricane season

FILE Photo of severe weather conditions from Hurricane Irma in Southwest Florida in 2017.

An “extremely” active hurricane season is ahead. Colorado State University updated its forecast and calls for several more storms that would be nearly double the average. This comes as Isaias moved up the East Coast and left behind damage. Thousands are without power across several states.

We spoke to a family in Buckingham Wednesday that went through a lot during Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Chief Meteorologist Jim Farrell says the new outlook means there could be 10 more hurricanes this season, with five of expected to be Category 3 or higher.

It’s reminding many in a local neighborhood of Hurricane Irma when their street had water up to many people’s waists.

“We didn’t go underwater, thank God,” Kathy Colmenares said.

Colmenares’ family was stuck, blocked in their home by water.

“Oh my God, no power, no nothing,” Colmenares said. “And four-wheel-drives. Cars were floating down there.”

Colmenares’ daughter was pregnant at the time. They had no generator. And, like so many Southwest Floridians during Irma, her son set out to help in the community.

“One day, he pulled out like 13 cars,” Colmenares said.

Colmenares told us she can’t go through that again.

Now, Colorado State University is forecasting 15 more named storms this season.

WINK News’ chief meteorologist explained 10 of those are forecast as hurricanes, five as major ones.

“We haven’t had any major hurricanes yet. They are forecasting five. That’s a lot,” Farrell explained. “Typically, an average season only has about two to three major hurricanes.”

But exactly where those forecasted storms would head, there is no way to know yet.

“We all need to remember, nobody knows where they are going to,” Farrell said. “So, if there are five major hurricanes, if they all stay out over the Atlantic, wow, what a great thing. If they all come in like they did in 2004, that’s not so good.”

Those are years many hope they never see anything like again.

“We’ve been here 20 years,” Colmenares aid. “We have rode every one of them out.”

You can expect to see another NOAA update to its forecast for the season Thursday. There is very strong consensus among meteorologists already that this will be an active season.

MORE: Forecast of Atlantic seasonal hurricane activity and landfall strike probability for 2020