ATLANTIC COAST - If you read that we were reporting on hurricanes and thought, “Already?” you are not alone. While it feels as though we just put the last hurricane season to bed, experts at Colorado State University are anticipating an early Atlantic hurricane season.

The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and lasts through Nov. 30, according to Pilot Online, but Hurricane Alex, formed on Jan. 12, became one of history’s earliest named storms.

Researchers are expecting the season to be slightly below average, however–a weak La Niña this past winter could be followed by a weak-to-moderate El Niño. El Niño winds tend to take apart hurricanes, according to source gCaptain, slowing things down around the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season.

In the report, researches note the probability of major hurricanes making landfall as:

• 42 percent for the entire U.S. coastline, with an average of 52 percent over the last century
• 24 percent for the U.S. East Coast, including the Florida peninsula, with an average of 31 percent over the last century
• 24 percent for the Gulf Coast from the Florida panhandle westward to Brownsville, with an average of 30 percent for the last century
• 34 percent for the Caribbean, which averages 42 percent for the last century

Overall, 11-12 named storms are expected, four of which could become hurricanes and two which could reach major hurricane strength with sustained winds of 111 miles per hour or greater.

In 2016, we saw 15 named storms. Of those, seven became hurricanes and four developed into major hurricanes.

As the season continues to develop and become clearer, we will report on any further developments that could impact growing regions in the produce industry.