Forecaster sees very active 2011 hurricane season

FORT COLLINS, Colo.—Next year’s Atlantic hurricane season will be more active than normal, according to a forecast issued Wednesday by the Tropical Meteorology Project at Colorado State University.

The team forecasts 17 named storms will form next year in the Atlantic basin. Nine of the storms will grow into hurricanes, with five of those growing into major hurricanes with sustained winds of at least 111 mph, according to the forecast.

In an average hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, 9.6 named storms form, with 5.9 growing to hurricane strength, of which 2.3 will become major hurricanes, the CSU team said.

The team also said there is a 72% probability that a major hurricane will make landfall in the United States next year.

The CSU team predicted in June and August that 18 named storms would form this year.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 19 named storms formed during this year’s Atlantic hurricane season. Twelve became hurricanes, with five reaching major hurricane status. The storms, however, caused little damage to the United States.