NHC Predicts 16 Named Storms for Upcoming Atlantic Hurricane Season, Releases Names for 2021

16 named storms, 7 hurricanes, 3 major hurricanes and an ACE index of about 127 units

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1 and ends on November 30, and the National Hurricane Center will begin issuing regular Tropical Weather Outlooks on May 15, two weeks earlier than they did in the past.

The NHC, the National Weather Service and the World Meteorological Organization planned to discuss whether or not to move up the official start of the hurricane season to May 15 due to multiple seasons in the past that have had systems form before the official start of the season.

After discussing the possible change to the start date, it was decided that the start of the season would remain as June 1 for the 2021 season.

On December 9, 2020, Tropical Storm Risk issued an extended range forecast for the 2021 season, predicting slightly above-normal activity with 16 named storms, 7 hurricanes, 3 major hurricanes and an ACE index of about 127 units.

TSR cited the expected development of a weak La Niña during the third quarter of 2021 as the main factor behind their forecast.

The following names will be used for named storms that form in the North Atlantic in 2021. Retired names, if any, will be announced by the World Meteorological Organization in the spring of 2022.

The names not retired from this list will be used again in the 2027 season. This is the same list used in the 2015 season, with the exceptions of Elsa and Julian, which replaced Erika and Joaquin, respectively.

■ Ana (unused)
■ Bill (unused)
■ Claudette (unused)
■ Danny (unused)
■ Elsa (unused)
■ Fred (unused)
■ Grace (unused)
■ Henri (unused)
■ Ida (unused)
■ Julian (unused)
■ Kate (unused)
■ Larry (unused)
■ Mindy (unused)
■ Nicholas (unused)
■ Odette (unused)
■ Peter (unused)
■ Rose (unused)
■ Sam (unused)
■ Teresa (unused)
■ Victor (unused)
■ Wanda (unused)

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