The 2010 Hurricane Season in the Atlantic Ocean will begin on June 1, 2010, and end on November 30, 2010. Atlantic hurricanes affect the eastern and Gulf coasts of the U.S. and the Caribbean nations. Those with interests in hurricane-prone areas must heed federal and state advice on preparedness, the season in general, and each specific storm in the season.

This 2010 Hurricane Season page will follow the 2010 season from preparedness, throughout the season and in the aftermath, offering up-to-date information and resources to keep you fully informed.

As the 2009 nurricane season closes, hurricane predictors are turning their attention to the 2010 season. At the University of Miami, Professor of Meteorology Ben Kirtman is looking into the relationship between the positioning of El Nino and the severity of hurricanes in the Atlantic basin. According to Kirtman, in 2009 El Nino was located just offshore of the South Ameircan coast, which led to a mild hurricane season. In contrast, under Kirtman's theory, if El Nino moves furher off theSouth American coast then it will not protect the U.S. coastlines and may support the formation of more and stronger storms. http://cbs4.com/local/el.nino.hurricane.2.1338052.html

NOAA will issue its initial forecast for the 2010 season on May of 2010. http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20091130_endhurricaneseason.html

Although hurricane forecasting is becoming more accurate, there is no computer model or formula to tell how many hurricanes will strike land during a particular season and how many of those which make landfall will be severe. For example, the 2004 season was devastating, with four severe hurricanes striking the U.S. causing loss of life and major property damage. In contrast, the 2009 season was relatively uneventful. The deadliest hurricane on record is the storm that struck and destroyed Galveston in 1901. Hurricane Katrina was the costliest hurricane, causing over $81 billion in damages.

The 2009 hurricane season for the Atlantic Basic will close on November 30, 2009. There were two tropical depressions, six tropical storms, and three hurricanes. The hurricanes were Hurricane Bill (active Aug. 15-24), Hurricane Fred (active Sept. 7-12), and Hurricane Ida (active Nov. 4-9). http://www.minnpost.com/pauldouglas/2009/11/09/13265/first_us_hurricane_landfall_of_2009_imminent The only two storms to strike the United States were Tropical Storm Claudette and Hurricane Ida. http://www.wmfe.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=10053&news_iv_ctrl=1041

The mild season can be attributed to El Nino conditions over the Pacific Ocean. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/08/090806-hurricane-season-2009-forecast.html El Nino produces warm Pacific waters and upper level winds that discourage conditions favorable to hurricane formation. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/11/091123-hurricane-season-2009-quiet.html Cooler waters in the Atlantic Ocean also inhibited hurricane formation. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/11/091123-hurricane-season-2009-quiet.html The 2009 season was the mildest on record since 1997. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20091119-711767.html