National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

So far, the Atlantic has been hurricane-free, but one forecaster points out that similar years in the past have had very active second halves.

But federal forecasters trimmed their original forecast slightly, because the Atlantic waters are not as warm as predicted.

The Air Force unit that operates most of the data-collection flights might be unable to muster enough manpower if two or three storms threaten land at the same time.

The 6-foot wave may have been triggered by a big change in air pressure, which may have been caused by a big storm.

The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season is expected to dump 3 to 6 inches of rain in Florida, before moving along the eastern seaboard.

The commonwealth of Massachusetts is suing the Obama administration over lowered catch limits for historic Northeast species such as cod. Commercial fishermen say the drastic reductions that just went into effect will put them out of business. The state attorney general alleges regulators violated federal law by failing to take the economic impact into account.

Officials are forecasting that hurricane activity will be "above normal" this season, with 13 to 20 named storms. As many as six of those could be major hurricanes. Warm ocean waters and the lack of El Nino conditions are partly to blame.

Forecasters predict as many as six major hurricanes in the Atlantic this year due in part to warmer-than-average ocean temperatures.

Once NOAA realized conditions were ripe for severe weather they put their satellites on overdrive. They beamed back amazing images.

As it roared through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, packing winds of up to 200 mph, the twister flattened buildings. Searchers continue to look for survivors and those who were killed.