At a Glance

A total of 10 to 17named storms, five to nine hurricanes and two to four major hurricanes are expected this season.This range is mostly abovethe 30-year average of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes.The outlook was released Thursday by NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.

The 2019 Atlantic hurricane season is now more likely to produce an above-average number of hurricanes and tropical storms, according to an updated outlook released Thursday by NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.

(MORE: Hurricane Central)

NOAA expects , including five to nine hurricanes and two to four major hurricanes. This is slightly more active than the outlook released Monday by , which called for 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and two major hurricanes this season.

The 30-year average (1981-2010) is 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes. A major hurricane is one that is Category 3 or stronger on the.

Last year, 15 named storms, eight hurricanes and two major hurricanes .

Numbers of Atlantic Basin named storms (those that attain at least tropical or subtropical storm strength), hurricanes and hurricanes of Category 3 intensity forecast by NOAA and Colorado State University compared to the 30-year average.

(Note: The outlooks include Andrea and Barry, which formed earlier in the hurricane season.)

NOAA indicated that oceanic and atmospheric conditions are now more favorable for above-average hurricane activity in the Atlantic Basin because El Niño had officially ended as of Thursday, when the .

(MORE: El Niño Has Ended; Here's What That Means)

El Niño tends to yield a less active hurricane season than average because of increased wind shear – the change in wind speed with height – in the Atlantic Ocean. Wind shear is detrimental to the development and maintenance of tropical cyclones.

"El Niño typically suppresses Atlantic hurricane activity, but now that it’s gone, we could see ," Dr. Gerry Bell, lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, said in a press release.

"This evolution, combined with the more conducive conditions associated with the ongoing high-activity era for Atlantic hurricanes that began in 1995, increases the likelihood of above-normal activity this year."

Although the officialAtlantic hurricane season runs from June through November, the second week of August through the month of September is historically the most active stretch of the Atlantic hurricane season. Destructive hurricanes can also strike into October, as we saw with Michael in 2018 and Matthew in 2016.

(MORE: Here's When the Atlantic Hurricane Season Typically Ramps Up)

Colorado State University noted in its updated outlook that "current conditions in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean present mixed signals for ."

This is because even though El Niño conditions have disappeared, the lingering warm waters in the central tropical Pacific will likely last over the next couple of months, and that could prevent upper-level winds in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean from becoming too favorable for hurricane development.

Here are some questions and answers about what these outlooksmean.

What Does This Mean for the United States?

There is no strong correlation between the number of storms or hurricanes and United States landfalls in any given season. This year's first U.S. landfall came with in July. Barry's formation is taken into account in the NOAA seasonal outlook, along with short-lived from May.

Of the 10 to 17 total named storms predicted to develop this season, one or more additional storms could hit the U.S., or none could. That's why residents of the coastal United States should prepare each year no matter the forecast.

The 1992 and 1983 hurricane seasons are visceral examples of why you need to be prepared regardless of the seasonal forecast.

The 1992 season produced only six named storms and one unnamed subtropical storm. However, one of those named storms was Hurricane Andrew, which devastated South Florida as a Category 5 hurricane.

In 1983, there were only four named storms, but one of them was . The Category 3 hurricane hit the Houston/Galveston, Texas, area and caused some $3 billion in damage, taking more than a dozen lives.

In contrast, the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season was quite active, with 19 named storms and 12 hurricanes. Despite the large number of storms that year, not a single hurricane and only one tropical storm made landfall in the U.S.

In other words, a season can deliver many storms but have little impact, or deliver few storms but with major impacts.

Named storm tracks in the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season. The colors correspond to intensities of each named storm during that section of the track, except for the black sections, which correspond to either a remnant or the time during which a system was a tropical wave before forming into a depression or storm.

The U.S. averages one to two hurricane landfalls each season, according to.

The past two hurricane seasons have been particularly destructive.

In 2018, four named storms impacted the U.S. coast, most notably hurricanes and within a month of each other.

Seven named storms impacted theU.S. in 2017. Most notably, hurricanes , and batteredTexas, Florida and Puerto Rico, respectively.

(MORE: Three Category 4 Hurricanes Made a U.S. Landfall in 2017)

In 2016, five named storms impacted the southeastern U.S. coast. The most notable of the bunch was, with its powerful scraping of the coast and subsequent inland rainfall flooding.

In the past three seasons, eight hurricanes were so destructive and/or deadly from further use by the World Meteorological Organization.

The number of U.S. landfalls had been well below average over the previous 10 years before these seasons.

The 10-year running total of U.S. hurricane landfalls from 2006 through2015was seven,according to a meteorologist at the National Weather Service. This was a record low for any 10-year period dating to 1850, and considerably lower than dating to 1850,Lamers added.

What's more, none of the U.S. landfalls from 2006 through 2016 involved major hurricanes, the longest such streak on record.

Bottom line: it's impossible to know for certain if a U.S. hurricane strike, or multiple strikes, will occur this season. Keep in mind, however, that even a weak tropical storm hitting the U.S. can cause major impacts, particularly if it moves slowly and produces flooding rainfall.

Americans and Hurricane Season

The Weather Company, an Business, surveyed 2,200 adults across the United States and gained some interesting insights about Americans and hurricane season.

-Americans believe the weather has gotten more severe, but four in 10 have no plans to handle an emergency.

-Only 31% of Americans said they would always evacuate if ordered to do so.

-Only 16% of Americans have a preparedness kit packed in preparation for a severe weather event.

provides a list of tips to help you prepare for a hurricane. Some of them could end up saving your life.