Storms’ Intensity Remains Tough to Predict, Says U.S. Hurricane Chief

The new head of the National Hurricane Center says the big challenge for forecasters is predicting the intensity of hurricanes.

Bill Read says there’s been a lot of improvement in track models in recent years. But he says intensity forecasts haven’t kept pace.

Read was in Charleston, S.C. this week for the start of a five-day hurricane conference between federal agencies.

He says it’s too early to make predictions for the upcoming hurricane season. The Hurricane Center forecast won’t be out until May.

The hurricane season is June 1 through November 30.