AUSTIN, Texas -- The 2017 was a busy tropical storm season with 17 named storms, 10 hurricanes and six major hurricanes.

Of course the major Hurricane Harvey battered much of the Texas coast with devastating wind damage in the Rockport, Texas area and historic flooding in the Houston area. With $125 billion in damage, Harvey ended up tying Hurricane Katrina as the costliest hurricane in U.S. history. 

It was the first major hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Wilma in 2005. In September, another major hurricane, Maria, battered Puerto Rico and Florida. Many parts of Puerto Rico are still without power.  

The 2018 tropical storm outlook doesn't look to be as active as 2017 and may actually fall near or just above the long-term average which is 11 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes. Tropical storm activity has increased over the past 10 years with 15 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. 

Forecasters are expecting sea surface temperatures to drop below historical norms during peak hurricane season in August in September; therefore, they anticipate lower tropical storm activity than last year. 

Forecasters are anticipating 12 to 14 named storms, six to seven hurricanes and two to three major hurricanes in 2018.