We know all you EnviroWonk readers are excited for the unofficial start of summer this Memorial Day weekend, but in the hearts of meteorologists, summer commences on June 1, the beginning of hurricane season.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has released its 2008 hurricane activity predictions. Yes, the past two years have been pretty mild, but NOAA says this year there is a 90 percent chance we'll see normal to above average activity. They're predicting 12 to 16 named storms, 6 to 9 of which will become hurricanes, and 2 to 5 of those will be Categories 3-5. Place your bets now to see how our federal scientists fare. NOAA also wants to remind you that even though global warming is doing crazy things to the weather, it is only responsible for increasing the intensity of hurricanes, not the frequency.

So, if you live along the Gulf coast or eastern seaboard you might want to stock up on food, water, flashlights and beer. And, if you live in New Orleans, you might also want to grab an extra motor boat. Despite spending over $4 billion repairing the city's levees, the section that broke and caused massive flooding during Katrina is leaking. The Army Corps of Engineers downplayed the leak as "a little wet spot," which should be a relief since we know the agency operates with such integrity.