The federal government predicts a near-normal 2023 hurricane season for the Atlantic Basin: Five to nine hurricanes are expected to form. Overall, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts that 12 to 17 named tropical storms will develop in the region, which includes the Atlantic, the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. The season is expected to be less active than in recent years because of competing factors − some that suppress storm development and some that fuel it − driving this year's overall forecast for a near-normal season.