(The Hill) – A new AccuWeather forecast predicts the U.S. could be bracing for a 2025 Atlantic Hurricane season on par with last year’s, which brought six named storms directly to U.S soil. This year, according to the forecast released Thursday, experts say anywhere from three to six named st orms could directly impact the United States. The 30-year historical average, from 1990 to 2020, saw an average of four storms make landfall each Atlantic Hurricane season, which begins at the start of June each year and runs through the end of November. “Everyone needs to start planning and preparing for hurricane season. Climatology, weather patterns, water temperatures, and many other factors all point to yet another active Atlantic hurricane season with more tropical storms and hurricanes forming, compared to the historical average,” AccuWeather chief meteorologist Jonathan Porter said in a statement. “We expect fewer named storms this year compared to last year,” he continued, adding, however, that “the total number of storms is not truly what defines a hurricane season; it is the impacts to land and populated areas.” “It only takes one landfall to create a devastating season,” Porter added. Overall, the 2025 AccuWeather forecast predicts 13 to 18 named storms in the 2025 season, including seven to 10 storms expected to strengthen into hurricanes, three to six of which will be deemed “major hurricanes.” Storms that don’t make landfall on U.S. soil could either cause damage to Central American countries or the Caribbean. The storms could also avoid populated areas altogether. Where does your neighborhood rank among the 2025 ‘Best Places to Live’? Last year, five hurricanes — Helene, Milton, Beryl, Debby and Francine — and one unnamed subtropical storm directly impacted the U.S., bringing historic damage that AccuWeather estimates amounted to a total of $500 billion in damage and economic loss. The AccuWeather forecast suggested similar areas could be hit particularly hard during the 2025 season: Texas, Louisiana, the western coast of Florida, North Carolina and Atlantic Canada. "Similar to last year, northern and eastern portions of the Gulf Coast and the Carolinas are at a higher-than-average risk of direct impacts this season," AccuWeather lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva said in a statement. "Atlantic Canada and the northeastern Caribbean are also at an increased risk of direct impacts,” DaSilva added. Experts are warning that the hurricane season could start early this year, in May, “due to exceptionally warm water temperatures expected across much of the Atlantic basin.” The warm water temperatures bring other concerns, as well. "The threat of storms rapidly intensifying before they make landfall is a major concern again this year. Water temperatures at the surface and hundreds of feet deep are forecast to be well above the historical average throughout this hurricane season, providing extra fuel for storms to explode in intensity,” DaSilva said. ...read more read less