'Drier-than-expected' air led to weak 2013 Atlantic hurricane season, NOAA says

Season marks 6th least-active since 1950

Hurricane Irene as seen from space.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Forecasters say the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially ends Saturday, has delivered the fewest hurricanes since 1982.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday that drier-than-expected air led to the weak season. There were 13 named storms, but only two -- Ingrid and Humberto -- became hurricanes. Neither was considered "major," a storm that reaches Category 3 strength.

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The average Atlantic hurricane season produces six hurricanes, of which three are "major."

NOAA says 2013 will rank as the sixth least-active year since 1950, in terms of the collective strength and duration of tropical storms and hurricanes.

Only one storm, Tropical Storm Andrea, made landfall in the United States.


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