The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration revised its
predictions Thursday, saying more named storms are likely in
this year's Atlantic hurricane season. The agency now predicts
between 12 and 17 named storms from the period that started on
June 1 and will end on November 30. NOAA's original May
prediction was between nine and 15 named storms. The chance of
an above-normal hurricane season rose to 35%, said Gerry Bell,
the lead hurricane season forecaster at NOAA's Climate
Prediction Center. There is a 50% chance of a "near-normal"
season. NOAA predicts that five to eight of the named storms
will become hurricanes, and that two to three of those could be
major hurricanes. A hurricane that reaches Category 3 or greater
(with winds of at least 111 mph) is considered major. A "normal"
hurricane season produces 12 named storms, including six
hurricanes, of which three are major hurricanes. "We are
increasing the likelihood of an above-normal season because
storm-conducive wind patterns and warmer-than-n