2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season Predictions

Atlantic hurricane season officially kicks off June 1st, 2018 so it is time again to take a look at what predictions are for the summer. The season did kick off just a little bit early this year, with Subtropical Storm Alberto hitting some of the Gulf coast over this past holiday weekend. This was the fourth year in a row that a storm developed before the official start of the season. Here are a few things to keep in mind if Mother Nature crashes your Walt Disney World vacation.


Walt Disney World 2018 Hurricane Season Predictions


On May 24, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) released their first forecasts of the year for the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season. The forecast calls for a 75% chance of "a near to above average season" in 2018. In layman's terms that means that they are expecting 10 to 16 named storms, of which 5 to 9 could possibly become hurricanes if their winds reach 74 mph or higher. This includes the between 1 and 4 major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher.


2018 Hurricane Predictions


Don't let that scare you! Mother Nature is fickle, and there is no way to tell at this point where or when those storms will hit. These predictions are for the entire Atlantic hurricane and many will not even hit Florida. Walt Disney World is an inland destination located in Central Florida, and direct hits are unusual. That being said, in 2017 Hurricane Irma did impact operations of the Disney Parks. For this reason, when traveling during hurricane season it never hurts to purchase travel insurance, and be familiar with foul weather policies and procedures.


2018 Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Names


Check out our previous articles about visiting Walt Disney World during hurricane season.

• Traveling to Walt Disney World During Hurricane Season
• Tips for Riding Out A Hurricane at Walt Disney World
• Making The Most Of A Disney Trip When Your Plans Suddenly Change
• What to do When it Rains on Your Disney World Vacation
• Changing and Cancelling Your Walt Disney World Reservations

The 2018 Atlantic Hurricane season will officially begin on June 1, 2018, and end on November 30, 2018. Peak season runs from August 15th until September 30th, and NOAA will update these predictions again in early August. If you would like to read more information on the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season visit NOAA's Website or that of the Central Florida Hurricane Center