Atlantic hurricane season shapes up as very active

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

MIAMI (AFP) — The Atlantic hurricane season starting in June will be very active in the northwest Atlantic with 15 tropical storms, eight of which will hit hurricane strength, four of them major, US forecasters warned Wednesday.

The University of Colorado team led by William Gray, who has been in the hurricane predicting business for 25 years, revised upward his late 2007 preliminary forecast for 13 tropical storms and seven hurricanes.

"Current oceanic and atmospheric trends indicate that we will likely have an active Atlantic basin hurricane season," said Gray, who delivered his report at a weather conference in the Bahamas, a University of Colorado statement said.

The experts predicted the season -- which stretches from June 1 to November 30 -- would...