It is expected to be an average hurricane season in terms of the number of storms, but officials are urging people to be prepared should a significant system head their way.

Hurricane season officially begins June 1st.

El Niño is expected to have an impact on the number of storms that can form in the Atlantic, with between eight and 14 expected this year.

While that has the potential to be a below average year, that doesn’t mean a severe storm won’t make its way to the province.

Emergency preparedness meteorologist Bob Robichaud says people should prepare for hurricanes the same way every year, regardless of what the seasonal outlook is, because it only takes one storm to make it a bad year.

He says it is important for people to assess their risk levels – for example if they live near the coast, to make a plan, and to have an emergency kit ready.

Robichaud also stresses the importance of having a way to monitor the forecast as a storm approaches.

He says people tend to latch on to the first forecast they see, however forecasts become much more accurate when a storm is well organized – which means early outlooks can change significantly. He encourages people to have a reliable way to monitor weather information.