Atlantic hurricane season for 2023 forecast to have at least 12 named storms, NOAA says

The 2023 hurricane season is expected to be "near normal" with at least 12 named storms, scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted Thursday. Here's what the hurricane categories mean

NOAA said it expects 12 to 17 named storms and five to nine hurricanes this year, with one to four major hurricanes.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. When a tropical depression reaches maximum sustained winds of at least 39 mph, it is considered a tropical storm and gets a name. A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when its sustained winds reach at least 74 mph, while major hurricanes — Category 3, 4 or 5 — are even more intense.