Forecasters at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service, announced their prediction for above-average hurricane activity this year. Cheddar anchor Shannon Lanier tells us more about what we can expect this season and how severe this season will be.

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Why Experts Are Predicting a Particularly Bad Hurricane Season

Unfortunately, hurricane season officially begins June one. Water temperatures are already higher than average and there's a troubling current in the Gulf that has some experts predicting the worst. Here's what you should know that troubling current in the gulf is what's known as a loop current. It's the area of warm water that travels from the caribbean further into the gulf of Mexico. Historically. When it reaches the gulf this early, we've been in for a rough hurricane season. This hurricane season might show us shades of hurricane seasons past. According to a hurricane activity forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. We should expect 14-21 named storms with winds 39 mph or higher As well as 3-6 major hurricanes, making this the seventh consecutive above average hurricane season. So how does the loop current make for a rougher hurricane season? Well, the storm can gain strength as it draws energy from water warmer than 78°, potentially upgrading a tropical storm to a powerful hurricane. What has experts alarmed now is that this year's loop current looks very similar to that of 2005. The year, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans of the 27 names storms that year seven became hurricanes Wilma and Rita also crossed the loop current and gained strength in 2005. They would go on to become two of the most intense atlantic hurricanes on record. Hurricane season ends November 30, but storms have formed past that time, especially in recent years