• Submitted by: admin
• Caribbean
• Central America
• Environment
• Intense rains and floods
• Society
• United States
• Science and Technology
• 04 / 24 / 2009

Colorado State University's hurricane forecast team's latest prediction calls for 12 named storms, including six hurricanes. Of those six, two are expected to be major hurricanes with maximum wind speeds of 111 mph or greater. The first of the storms in the Atlantic, which are named in alphabetical order, will be Ana.

In 2008, there were 16 named storms including eight hurricanes, five of them major.

Colorado State's December forecast predicted 14 named storms for this year. Yet even the revised forecast indicates a slightly-above-average season. Since 1950, a typical Atlantic hurricane season has had 10 named storms, six of them hurricanes and two of those major hurricanes.

The team will issue another update on June 2. Others will be released as the hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, progresses.