2014 Atlantic hurricane season forecast to be 'less active than normal'

The Casino Pier Star Jet roller coaster submerged in the sea on Jan. 13, 2013 in Seaside Heights, N.J., 75 days after Hurricane Sandy struck in 2012./ Glynnis Jones / Shutterstock.com

Hurricane forecasters on Tuesday said they foresee a “less active than normal” Atlantic hurricane season in 2014.

Meteorologists Fred Schmude and Chris Hebert of Houston-based forecasting firm ImpactWeather Inc. predicted 10 named storms, four hurricanes and one intense hurricane during the season. Ocean temperature trends, elevated wind shear across the Tropical Atlantic and the expected development of an El Niño by July or August all contributed to the forecast of a less active season, the company said in a statement.

Nonetheless, Mark Chambers, president of ImpactWeather, said the prediction is not an excuse for complacency, noting that some of history's most devastating storms occurred in years when overall hurricane activity was quite low.

“Many along the Gulf Coast remember hurricanes Alicia and Andrew,” Mr. Chambers said in the statement. “Those storms were catastrophic to the Houston and Miami areas, and came during seasons that were otherwise considered quiet.”

Accordingly, Mr. Chambers urged businesses to stress storm preparedness.

“2014 marks eight years since a hurricane stronger than Category 3 has made landfall in the U.S.,” he said. “Many would theorize that we are overdue.”