The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins today.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts it will be a busy one, due to warmer-than-average water temperatures.

Forecasters believe there will be 13 to 20 Atlantic storms that are big enough to be given names.  They say we can expect between seven to eleven hurricanes this year.

A normal season would bring about six hurricanes.

The season ends on November 30th.

Coastal residents are urged to put together emergency kits with at least three days of supplies.