U.S. forecasters predicted Thursday that this year's Atlantic
hurricane season would produce a normal number of about nine to
15 tropical storms. As many as four to eight of those storms
could strengthen into hurricanes, according to the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's initial outlook for the
six-month storm season that officially begins June 1. One to
three of those could become major hurricanes with top winds of
111 mph or higher. The weather phenomenon known as El Nino,
which warms Pacific waters near the equator and increases wind
shear over the Atlantic, may develop by the late summer or early
fall and help suppress storm development, forecasters said. This
season got an early start when Tropical Storm Alberto formed
Saturday off the coast of South Carolina. Alberto dissipated
Tuesday over the Atlantic. Forecasters name tropical storms when
their top winds reach 39 mph; hurricanes have maximum winds of
at least 74 mph. The next named storm will be named Beryl. No
major hurricane has mad