Atlantic hurricane season starts with quieter outlook

The big picture: This year's Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be below average in storm activity for the first time in more than a decade, NOAA meteorologists said in their annual forecast.

Reality check: Residents should still take the season seriously and prepare now, officials stressed.

• "It's very important to understand that it only takes one," NOAA administrator Neil Jacobs told reporters.

Zoom in: Storm names this year include Dolly, Kyle, Nana and Wilfred.

• See the full list.

What we're watching: NOAA officials previewed several technological advances they said would help local emergency officials better prepare for impacts on the ground.

• That includes the agency's Flood Inundation Mapping tool, which provides street-level visualizations of flood waters in near real time.
• The tool will cover the entire U.S. by the end of September, National Weather Service director Ken Graham said.
• The agency also updated its cone of uncertainty with color coding that shows a storm's potential inland impacts.
• NOAA also added rip current risk maps.

Zoom out: NHC began its daily tropical outlook May 15, and so far, all has been quiet in the Gulf, Caribbean and Atlantic.

• Historically, the most active period for strong storms in the Gulf and the Atlantic is August and September.

What's next: Authorities urge residents to prepare now by gathering emergency supplies and making an evacuation plan.

• Here's a list of things you should do to prepare your home before the tropics heat up.