A stormy season.

"It is stressful and expensive to evacuate every time a powerful hurricane heads toward my community," says Abigayle Lista, 12. The young native of Metairie, Louisiana, speaks from experience. Three years ago, her family had to leave home to escape Hurricane Katrina. As Hurricane Gustav hurtled in their direction early this month, the Listas had to do it again. Two million people evacuated the area.

If experts' predictions hold true, this isn't the end of it. Abigayle and millions of other Florida and Gulf Coast residents are likely to face more hurricane threats before this year's season ends.

"Be Prepared"

The Atlantic Ocean hurricane season runs from June to the end of November. This is when storm systems are most likely to form over warm waters of the Atlantic. The average number of tropical storms per year is 11, with 6 developing into hurricanes. (A tropical storm becomes a hurricane if its wind speed increases to 74 or more miles per hour.)

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For 2008, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts 14 to 18 tropical storms, with 7 to 10 forming into hurricanes.

Hurricane Gustav turned out to be less destructive than was feared. But don't let down your guard, warns researcher William Gray of Colorado State University.

"No seasonal forecasts can determine when or where storms are going to strike," Gray told Popular Science. Like Abigayle and her family, "Coastal residents should take precautions during hurricane season, and be prepared."