Hurricane season 2019: Here's how many major hurricanes are expected this year

The Atlantic hurricane season has officially begun, but do you have a plan if a storm is on its way? Here are 10 tips on how you can prepare for this year’s hurricane season. Meagan Falcon/Caller-Times

It’s been nearly two years since Hurricane Harvey tore through the Texas coast.

The storm was responsible for 68 deaths. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Harvey ranks as the second-costliest hurricane in U.S. history, behind Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

To help those who live in hurricane-prone communities, AccuWeather meteorologists announced their hurricane projections for this year.

In a Wednesday conference call, Senior Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski explained this year will be close to a normal hurricane season.

AccuWeather’s Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook projects five to seven hurricanes in 2019, which is a decrease from 2018.

Of the number of expected hurricanes, about two to four of them are predicted to form into major hurricanes and impact on US coastal areas, Kottlowski said.

Up to 14 tropical storms are also predicted. There were 15 tropical storms last year, according to weather officials.

“It’s not quite as active as last year, but it only takes one hurricane to hurt a community,” Kottlowski said. “That’s why residents in those areas need to prepare. You should always expect that a Florence, a Michael or a Harvey will come your way.”

Jonathan Porter, vice president of AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions, added that communities not only on the coast, but inland areas prone to flooding should begin to plan now.

“They need to be aware of the risks,” Porter said. “Think about what you’ll do if a hurricane would hit, where might you evacuate, what supplies you will need.”

More: Here’s what you need in your ultimate hurricane preparedness list

While predicting the number of storms each season, meteorologists look at climate patterns from previous years and check if they match up.

Since an El Niño Advisory is currently in effect, meteorologists will closely monitor water temperatures.

Because it is early in the year, Kottlowski said meteorologists will be more confident in their predictions in June.

More: This is what spring 2019 will look like for South Texas

Aerial view on Monday of cities in the Coastal Bend

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Aerial view from cities in the Coastal Bend area after

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Members of the Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi prepare

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Scientific Support Coordinator Steve Lehmann from National

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Aerial view from cities in the Coastal Bend after Hurricane

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