U.S. government scientists forecast an above-normal 2025 hurricane season on Thursday, and said big staffing and budget cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration would not hinder its ability to forecast devastating storms and warn the public.

“Everything’s in place for an above-average season,” Ken Graham, director of the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS), told reporters in Louisiana.

According to NOAA, there is a 30 percent chance of a near-normal season and a 60 percent chance of an above-normal season, with a 10 percent chance of a below-normal season.