The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has written a review of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially concludes tomorrow. It notes that the season was more active than most in many regards, producing 15 named storms, including eight hurricanes of which two were major hurricanes. An average season has 12 named storms, which includes six hurricanes of which three are major hurricanes. Of the storms that formed, Florence and Michael will be most remembered given the significant damage they brought to the southeastern U.S. NOAA notes that Hurricane Michael, at a Category 4 intensity, was the strongest hurricane on record to strike the Florida panhandle. It was the third-most-intense hurricane to make landfall in the continental U.S. on record in terms of central pressure (919 mb) and the fourth-strongest in terms of maximum sustained winds (155 mph).The 2018 hurricane season is also notable for being the fourth consecutive year in which hurricane activity began prior to the official June 1 start of the season, with Tropical Storm Alberto forming on May 25. Additionally, the 2018 hurricane season was the first since 2008 to have four named storms active at the same time (Florence, Helene, Isaac and Joyce). Looking back at how the season compared with NOAA’s forecasts, NOAA Lead Seasonal Hurricane Forecaster Gerry Bell said, “The 2018 season fell within NOAA’s predicted ranges in our pre-season outlook issued in late May. However, the overall season was more active than predicted in the updated outlook issued in early August.”  NOAA.