HURRICANE

The category of the storm is important, but that is just the beginning of the story.

Here is a look at the improving forecast accuracy and what you need to know about the official forecasts issued by the National Hurricane Center.

Large plumes of dust are blowing across the Atlantic from the Sahara Desert.

Hurricane season is quickly approaching and homeowners are being urged to stay ahead of the game and don’t wait until it’s too late when it comes to preparing your roofs.

For those new to the state, there’s a lot of anxiety and unknowns when it comes to how to prepare.

It's hard to feel comfortable leaving your home in any emergency situation, but planning for it can make it a bit easier.

Know your zone to make sure you're ready if and when a storm threatens your area.

What's the "dirty side" of a storm during hurricane season?

Some terms you may know, others not so much.

The deadliest element of hurricanes is not what you think.

A hurricane-ready safe room could be the difference between life and death.

There are many myths when it comes to hurricane season and believing them could cause you and your family to make costly mistakes when preparing for a storm.

John Tolley, a trial lawyer who founded JT Law Firm, gave Florida homeowners tips for how they can get ready for hurricane season.

In these outlooks, the NHC will highlight tropical disturbances as having a low, medium or high chance for development over the next two and five days.

May has proved to be a time where tropical cyclone development can be a thing.

The National Hurricane Center is tracking the first tropical wave to come off the coast of Africa, even though it is more than three weeks until the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season, which starts on June 1.

Here we go.

(NCD)ORLANDO, Fla. — Hurricane season is a month away. Patronis offers the following four tips that you can put into action now before hurricane season starts:1. Secure flood insurance coverage. There are over 30 insurance carriers writing flood insurance in Florida’s private insurance market. In addition, most flood insurance policies take 30 days to go into effect, so it is vital to act now.

2021 was the third most active hurricane season in terms of named storms on record.

The 2022 Hurricane season is still several weeks away, but Crystal Williams is making sure to drop off a hurricane kit for a senior in Kissimmee.

If you’re not a professional roofer, then you might find it difficult to determine whether you need to replace your roof.

Emergency preparedness officials are warning Floridians not to get complacent during the upcoming hurricane season, particularly in coastal areas that haven’t experienced strong storms recently.

Florida could be a hurricane hotspot compared to the rest of the U.S. coastal states.

The 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season will be remembered for its fast-paced start and its abrupt finish.

The freshly-minted pop star is up for the night's four biggest awards, including album of the year.

The Florida-based hurricane hunter team is getting an upgrade to its fleet.

There's not much to track in the tropics right now.

History has been made again in the Atlantic basin.

For the second year in a row, we’ve exhausted the list of names allocated for the Atlantic hurricane season.

Subtropical storm Wanda has formed over the northern Atlantic, about 1,020 miles west of the Azores.

The insanely quiet October of 2021 continues in the Atlantic! There continues to be no threat to Florida or the entire U.S. at this time.

Florida-based Mike Boylan has become an online darling among weather junkies who turn to the amateur weather guru to get their hurricane season fix.

When there’s a tropical storm or hurricane moving across the ocean, part of what’s so intimidating about it is that it’s so unpredictable. We really never know where it might make landfall, or how powerful it might be when it does.

Hurricane season is slow and may close up shop early, and that’s a good thing!

A warm day is on tap in Central Florida.

The Atlantic is nice and quiet as we venture through the middle of October, but that could change in the final week or so of the month.

Hurricane season runs through November.

A disorganized system that originated near the Bahamas now has a moderate chance for develop through Sunday morning.

Here's a look back at three hurricanes that all happened in October.

Hurricane season runs through November.

Say it ain’t snow!

Hurricane season runs through November.

Remember, hurricane season is not over until the end of November.

After a few days with no tropical development expected, a disorganized area of clouds and showers has developed around the Turks and Caicos.

Hurricane Sam continues to be a powerful hurricane as it moves north through the Atlantic Ocean. Even as Sam is more than 1,000 northeast of Florida, the storms indirect impacts are being felt across the Atlantic.

Hurricane Sam is a Category 4 storm that is not expected to strike Bermuda but is forecast bring tropical storm conditions to the territory and other islands.

It is all but certain the 2021 hurricane season will use up its allotted names for the Atlantic Basin.

Hurricane season runs through the month of November.

Hurricane season runs through the month of November.

The tropics are not slowing down.

Here's what's happening in the tropics.

Hurricane Larry, which is growing in the central Atlantic and could reach Category 4 strength Saturday, could hit Bermuda and, possibly, Newfoundland.

Apple MusicOn Thursday night, MAGA maestro Kanye West threw caution and morality to the wind during his DONDA “listening party” at Chicago’s Soldier Field. In addition to erecting a replica of his childhood home—it is a hometown show, after all, and the album is named after his late mother Donda West—West, masked and dressed in all black, decided to bring out Marilyn Manson and DaBaby during the performance art piece. The three posed together on the stoop of the home, underneath a giant cross, a

Henri, which is expected to slam New England starting late Saturday, strengthened from a tropical storm into a Category 1 hurricane. It could be the first hurricane to hit the region in 30 years.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Hurricane season officially begins Tuesday. READ: See what NOAA is predicting for the 2021 Atlantic hurricane seasonHurricane Season starts June 1st and goes through November 30th. The peak of hurricane season is Sept. 10. Disturbance, depressions, tropical, subtropical storms, hurricanes“I promise we’ll stay calm and measured during the season. “Gather supplies while they’re still on the shelves, develop an evacuation plan, and prepare your home.”The 2021 hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

Yes, inflation is up and the stock market is down. But financial experts weigh in on what consumers can do to deal with higher consumer prices and why investors shouldn't panic.

Hurricane season starts again in just three weeks. As Hurricane Preparedness Week gets underway, Channel 9 meteorologist George Waldenberger spoke with National Hurricane Director Ken Graham about what we all need to be doing now to get prepared. If you live near the coast, find out from your county’s emergency management office if you live in an evacuation zone. Then, if they issue an evacuation, you’ll know if you need to leave before the waters rise. If you are in an evacuation zone, know where you’ll go if you need to leave your home.

BOCA RATON, Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference Friday afternoon outside of a Home Depot store in Boca Raton. DeSantis will be joined by Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz at 12:15 p.m., according to a release sent by the governors office. It was not immediately clear what the governor would be discussing. News 6 will carry this news conference live at 12:15 p.m.

ORLANDO, Fla.- For only the 6th time since 1842, a second named storm has developed prior to the official start of hurricane season. For only the 6th time in recorded history we have had two named storms prior to June 1. Its no secret multiple forecast outlets, including NOAA, are predicting a much above-average hurricane season, and it appears those predictions could be coming true even before the official season gets underway. In the satellite era, however, this is only the third time two named storms have developed before June 1. Tune into News 6 on June 1, the official start of hurricane season, for a full day of storm-prep coverage.

[RELATED - DOWNLOAD: News 6 Hurricane Preparedness Checklist]The key point this year is you get ready for hurricane season, he said. And the additional part -- COVID-19 -- add mask, gloves and sanitizers to your kit.Lawmakers have been anticipating a change to emergency management plans as hurricane season approaches. If were not careful, I think were making too much about COVID and hurricane season, he said. This goes back to this idea buy local, hire local. In the 2020 hurricane season, that may actually be a better response because we can put people to work. Again, I go into the hurricane season, everybodys been telling me Oh, its gonna be horrible.'

Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz said his agency has arranged to add face masks to the states stockpile of storm supplies. Well, we can't really do that now with COVID-19, Alberts said. FEMA has since released its COVID-19 Pandemic Operational Guidance for the 2020 Hurricane Season, which outlines how the agency plans to adapt its response and recovery efforts in light of COVID-19. Plan aheadAlberts said planning for a hurricane requires a lot of preparation and supplies, and planning for storm season with a pandemic still underway requires even more. The most important thing Floridians can do to make sure theyre ready for hurricane season, according to Alberts, is plan ahead.

Unfortunately, though, not even COVID-19 can cancel hurricane season in Florida, which means ready or not, here it comes. But now its time to kind of rebuild those resources and have them ready for when hurricane season is here, Prete said. One of the best things you can do for your child while planning for hurricane season, Prete said, is include them. She recommends using the pandemic and hurricane season conversations as educational experiences to let your child know ahead of time that if something does happen, youre going to be OK because your family has a plan that youve developed together. And helping them be a part of it with their team and their family would help them ease their anxiety.Additional resources to prepare children for hurricane season, including kids emergency plans and games, can be found here.

Starting Friday, Floridians can save on hurricane supplies under a sales tax holiday signed into law by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. The sales tax holiday for hurricane supplies will run to June 4 on items such as batteries, generators, weather radios and fuel cans. Qualifying items include:Reusable ice packs for $10 or lessAny portable self-powered light source (candles, flashlights, lanterns) for $20 or lessAny gas or diesel fuel container, including LP gas and kerosene containers for $25 or lessBatteries, including rechargeable batteries, listed sizes only (excluding automobile and boat batteries) for $30 or lessCoolers and ice chests for $30 or lessBungee cords for $50 or lessGround anchor systems for $50 or lessRadios (two-way, weather band) for $50 or lessRatchet straps for $50 or lessTarps for $50 or lessTie-down kits for $50 or lessVisqueen, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths and other flexible waterproof sheeting for $50 or less

ORLANDO, Fla.- Heres the thing about hurricane season. Take the 1992 hurricane season for example. Thursday, NOAA released its outlook for the upcoming hurricane season and again is predicting a more active than normal season. Since then, the Atlantic has been in an era of active hurricane seasons, some extremely active. The 1950s were known for their active hurricane seasons and part of another active era.

ORLANDO, Fla,- Thursday morning, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its outlook for the upcoming hurricane season. Lack of El-NinoEl-Nino Southern Oscillation or ENSO strongly impacts tropical development in the Atlantic Basin. Of course, the 2020 season has already seen its first named storm. Here are the names for the 2020 hurricane season:For the 6th straight year we had a storm develop before the official start to hurricane season June 1. Tune into News 6 on June 1, the official start of hurricane season, for a full day of storm-prep coverage.

ORLANDO, Fla. Central Florida is kicking off the workweek with a chance for severe weather. Central Florida can expect to see storms build in with a front and an area of low pressure stretching through the Gulf of Mexico. Bridges said rain chances will stick around for the next couple of days. Rain chances will be at 30% for the weekend. You can find everything you need to prepare your home and family for storm season at ClickOrlando.com/Hurricane.

ORLANDO, Fla.- While an active 2020 hurricane season has been predicted by several forecast outlets, early season tropical development is not an indication of an active season to come. For the 6th consecutive year, a named storm has developed prior to the official start of hurricane season June 1. Arthur formed in a spot we would expect for a pre-season or early season system. Each tropical storm marker in the graphic below indicates the approximate location where a tropical storm developed. If you look at the seasons in terms of the accumulated energy produced per season, the relationship between early season storms and active seasons appears less significant.

ORLANDO, Fla. An area of low pressure in the tropics could soon become the first named storm of the 2020 hurricane season -- weeks before the season even begins. According to Bridges, the disturbance will actually bring drier conditions to Central Floridas forecast later this weekend. The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins June 1 and runs through Nov. 30. Though its a couple of weeks away, experts suggest Floridians prepare for strong weather before the start of storm season. Visit ClickOrlando.com/Hurricane for everything you need to prep your family, pets and home for hurricane season.

This year, we want to make sure were touching on any and every hurricane-related concern you may have. [RELATED: Florida adds COVID-19 into its hurricane preparations]Use the form below to submit any questions you have about preparing for hurricane season, what to do during a storm and how to recover after one hits. After you submit your question, visit ClickOrlando.com/Hurricane from now through the end of the season to see if your question is answered. Researchers from Colorado State University are predicting an above-average hurricane season, with 16 named storms. The Atlantic hurricane season runs through Nov. 30.

ORLANDO, Fla. When a hurricane or other strong storm blows through Central Florida, it's not uncommon to see power outages. When your power is out, it can seem like time is crawling as you continue checking whether power has been restored. Stay informed regarding outages and billing with OUC Alerts. Orlando and Orange County residents can report outages by calling 407-423-9018. View outage maps for and find out how to report an outage to the following companies:Dont see your company?

After all the years of recorded named storms, one has to wonder: What happens when we run out of names? The World Meteorological Organization came up with a six-year rotating list of names for hurricanes, Gross said. Now we arrive at our initial question: What happens when we run out of names? So, lets say we have a storm named Walter. The first and last instance in which the Greek alphabet was needed was in 2005, during the busiest hurricane season on record, when there were 28 named storms.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. Residents of Seminole County have several resources available to them while preparing for a storm, riding it out and dealing with the aftermath once it passes. If you live in Seminole County, emergency officials also recommend you stay up to date with the county's Alert Seminole reverse 911 voice system, which notifies residents of any hazards in their neighborhood through landline phones, cellphones and voice-over-internet phones. To receive Seminole County information, enter 012117 when programming your radio. Shelter informationDepending on the severity of the weather and when it's expected to impact your area, some Seminole County shelters will open to welcome residents who need to take shelter. Residents with special needs who may need further sheltering assistance should register with the Seminole County Emergency Management by calling 407-665-5102 or by filling out a special needs registration form.

Hurricane, The Fighter, Divided Hurricane Harvey: A fluke or the future? Then, Sen. John McCain fights back; and, is the U.S. still a nation divided? Oprah Winfrey reports.

Hurricane causes dangerous waves, kills surfer A surfer near Malibu was pulled unconscious from the water today. Waves are reaching as high as two-story buildings. Teri Okita reports.

Weakening Hurricane Arthur makes way up East Coast The first hurricane ever recorded striking the U.S. on the Fourth of July is bearing down on the coast of Massachusetts. In Boston, WBZ-TV’s chief meteorologist Eric Fisher explains what to expect as the hurricane moves up the East Coast.

Hurricane Arthur intensifies as it nears North Carolina coast The season’s first hurricane is likely to bring heavy rain, strong winds and high surf to the East Coast. WBZ-TV's chief meteorologist Eric Fisher explains what to expect as Hurricane Arthur makes landfall.