Active Hurricane Season Expected Through November

According to forecasters, the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season is still slated as an "above-average" season.

Our friends at 10 Tampa Bay detailed what we might expect.

There are a total of fourteen to twenty named storms with tropical strength storms forecasted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration this season.

It always seems like there is less activity during the beginning half of the season and then it picks up in August and peaks in September.

On average, we can expect to see seven hurricanes and three major one per year.

Rick Spinrad is a Ph.D and NOAA Administrator. He explained, "We’re just getting into the peak months of August through October for hurricane development, and we anticipate that more storms are on the way. NOAA stands ready to deliver timely and accurate forecasts and warnings to help communities prepare in advance of approaching storms."

This forecast is not a "landfall" forecast. This means that it doesn't foretell the number of storms that will hit land.

Do you remember what 1992 was like? It was a horrific year for storms making landfall. Tropical Depression One, Tropical Storm Danielle...and then the big one, Hurricane Andrew. Hurricane Andrew was a category 5. The damage it casued totaled more than $27.3 billion, and that's not even adjusted for inflation.

One thing to remember about hurricane prep is that you can do it anytime. Don't wait until a weather forecaster is reporting that a storm is on the way. Then you run the risk of trying to go by sandbags or bottled water and running into short supply issues.

For more on this story, click here.

We had so much fun finding our first list of odd things-to-do near Tampa. Now, we've continued scouring the area and found seven more odd attractions and sights.

Sure, the Tampa Bay area has beaches, theme parks, trails, sports arenas, malls, etc. Sometimes, however, you need to look just a little deeper to find something you never realized was there.

Here are seven odd things-to-do around the area that you may or may not have known about. If you did know, let us know about your experience. Keep an eye out for the next list!

Yes, Tampa hosts ZooTampa, the Florida Aquarium, and Busch Gardens. Here's a place you may not have known about. Croc Encounters sits off of SR 301 a little north of I-4. It's a place you can have contact with some of Florida's scaled residents.

Brenda and Frank Crum have run Golden Spirit Alpaca Ranch since 2006. According to their website, they have around 150 alpaca on 75 acres.

Located off 34th Street in Tampa, McKay Bay Park was developed as a national avian sanctuary. It's located at the northeasternmost part of Tampa Bay. Groups such as the Audobon Society have been monitoring the birds that have made this a wintering location for many wintering bird species. The city of Tampa purchased the land in the 1980's and turned it into a park featuring boardwalks and viewing towers.

It's not a zoo. It's the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary. This is a place where primates can live out their lives. It's located in Palm Harbor. In fact, after his acting days, Cheetah from Johnny Weissmuller's "Tarzan" lived here until he turned 80. According to the BBC, he joined the sanctuary around 1960.

The manatees love the warm waters of the Big Bend Power Station. Travel to Apollo Beach where you can visit the viewing center, particularly in the winter. These wild, gentle sea cows are safe in the sanctuary provided by Tampa Electric.

The Official Ybor City Ghost Tour is considered one of the top haunted tours in the country. This isn't just a Halloween event. Haunts are here year-round. The 90-minute tour will introduce you to some spine-tingling residents of Ybor City.

Get that camera ready and take some pictures of this uniquely Thai. Also, it's not just a beautiful Thai Buddhist temple, but it features a drive-thru Sunday market. And bring your appetite, Wat Mongkolratanaram is known for some of the most amazing Asian dishes you'll find outside of the Far East.