KINGSTON, Jamaica – The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be extremely active, according to a forecast published by the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project team.

During their annual pre-season predictions, forecasters said it was likely that there would be a more than 50 per cent increase in storms of all categories, most of which are expected to make landfall within the Caribbean and mainland United States.

Twenty-three named storms are forecasted, including 11 expected to become hurricanes and five that could reach major hurricane status.

According to the first major forecast for the 2024 season, the warmer-than-normal tropical Atlantic is more conducive for hurricane formation and intensification.

“Sea surface temperatures in the eastern and central Atlantic are currently at record warm levels and are anticipated to remain well above average for the upcoming hurricane season. We anticipate that the 2024 Atlantic basin hurricane season will be extremely active,” said the CSU.

The CSU will again update its forecast in June.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center is to make its initial 2024 hurricane forecast in May.