2013 hurricane season to bring at least 15 cyclones in the Atlantic, experts say

Experts forecast an aggressive 2013 hurricane season that could bring up to 18 tropical cyclones to the Atlantic Ocean.

“We think that of these, at least eight could become hurricanes, while conditions in the Caribbean Sea could lead to the formation of at least four cyclones, and two of them could evolve into hurricanes,” said Daniel Poleo, an expert with the National Meteorological Institute.

A tropical cyclone formation is mainly due to changes in temperature. “The determining factor is the surface temperature of the sea. If it registers temperatures above 26.5 degrees Celsius [-3 F], there are high probabilities for the formation of a cyclone,” he added.

The first three hurricanes to form will be named Andrea, Barry and Chantal. “Names alternate between men and women, and they go in alphabetical order,” Poleo explained.

Last year, two hurricanes hit – “Michael” and “Sandy” – killing 147 people.

The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1 to Nov. 30.