NOAA predicts another active hurricane season. Here’s how many named storms are expected Agency predicts 13-20 named storms in 2021 Tags: ORLANDO, Fla. – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Thursday released its annual outlook for the hurricane season. NOAA is forecasting 13-20 named storms in 2021, with six to 10 hurricanes, and three to six major hurricanes, meaning category 3 or higher. 2021 hurricane forecast This is on the heels of a record-setting hurricane season, at least in terms of the number of named storms in a single season. In terms of intensity, measured by accumulated cyclone energy, the season ranked 13th. What is considered an average hurricane season increased in 2021 due to the higher frequency of tropical activity over the last 30 years. The climatological average is updated every 10 years and includes data from the previous 30 years.