Forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Weather Service predict above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year.

This year's Atlantic hurricane season—which runs June 1 through November 30—has a 60% chance of above-normal activity, with 13 to 19 named storms expected. Of those, 6-10 could become hurricanes, including 3-5 that could reach Category 3 or higher. NOAA says it has 70% confidence in these predictions.

“As we witnessed last year with significant inland flooding from hurricanes Helene and Debby, the impacts of hurricanes can reach far beyond coastal communities," said Laura Grimm, acting NOAA administrator. “NOAA is critical for the delivery of early and accurate forecasts and warnings, and provides the scientific expertise needed to save lives and property."

Several factors are driving this heightened forecast, including warmer-than-average Atlantic Ocean temperatures, which fuel storm development; weak wind shear and a neutral El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) pattern, both of which favor storm formation; and a potential northward shift of the West African Monsoon, which often seeds strong and long-lived Atlantic storms.

For agents, this forecast isn't just a meteorological update. It's a business and client service imperative. With a strong chance of significant storm activity, now is the time to review clients' coverage—especially flood, wind and business interruption policies—and conduct pre-season outreach to educate clients on storm preparedness and insurance gaps.

Further, agencies should ensure readiness to handle claims surges, particularly for inland flood damage, which has been a growing concern in recent seasons.

To stay current with NOAA updates and local emergency management alerts for timely client communication, go to noaa.gov.

Earlier this year, Colorado State University (CSU) hurricane researchers also predicted an above-average Atlantic hurricane season in 2025.

The CSU team predict 17 named storms during the Atlantic hurricane season. Of those storms, researchers forecast nine to become hurricanes and four to become Category 3, 4 or 5 storms.

Similarly, AccuWeather forecasters predict 13 to 18 named storms during the 2025 hurricane season, with 7-10 predicted to strengthen into hurricanes and 3-5 to become Category 3 or higher.

Will Jones is IA editor-in-chief.