2007 Hurricane Forecast

Sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean are cooling while Atlantic temperatures are warming - a climate recipe for an Atlantic hurricane season more active than normal, according to government scientists.

Just before the official hurricane season starts June 1, hurricane experts at the Climate Prediction Center operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, said Tuesday there is a 75 percent chance that the Atlantic hurricane season will be above normal this year.

"For the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season, NOAA scientists predict 13 to 17 named storms, with seven to 10 becoming hurricanes, of which three to five could become major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher," said NOAA Administrator Conrad Lautenbacher.