Today marks the official start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season and the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) is holding a press conference this morning, as it gears up for the “near-normal” activities that experts are predicting

The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 to November 30 each year – a time when tropical cyclones are most likely to form in the North Atlantic Ocean-although they form outside of that period as well.

NODS is expected to inform the public about its plans and protocols and to provide much-needed advice on how to stay safe during the season, according to the organization’s Public Relations Officer Midcie Francis.

“This year, we want to include a number of our partners. We have not had confirmation yet, but we’re hoping to have someone from the Met Office and also someone from the Antigua and Barbuda Chamber of Commerce…the Chamber consists of private sector businesses and we really want [the body] to join with us. We have invited a representative to speak on how prepared its members are for this year’s hurricane season.

“We’re hoping to really boost collaboration with the private sector and the Antigua and Barbuda Chamber of Commerce is willing to work with us in that regard”, she said.

The forecast for last year’s hurricane season was ‘above-average, however this year, they are predicting that there will be 12-17 named storms in total this hurricane season

Forecasters say five to nine of these could become hurricanes, and one to four of them could become major hurricanes.

NODS official press conference will be held at its American Road headquarters – scheduled to commence at 10 am