Hurricane Forecast: "Above-Average" Year

Coming soon?

Not a single hurricane touched U.S. shores last year. This year, we might not be so lucky. The official forecast calls for an "above-average" number of storms in the Atlantic.

U.S. government forecasters are predicting between six and 10 hurricanes, with three to six becoming major hurricanes.

One reason for the increase is warming ocean temperatures. Parts of the Atlantic are at least two degrees above normal, and that increases the "fuel" for hurricanes to form. Dennis Feltgen is a spokesman for the National Hurricane Center in Miami. He says the effect known as "La Nina" - is expected to end by June.

"It's impacts, which include reduced wind shear, may linger into a good part of the hurricane season," says Feltgen. "So when you put those factors together, it looks like the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season could be above-normal in terms of numbers."

There were an above-average number of hurricanes in the Atlantic last year, but a condition known as the Bermuda High drew storms to the north before they could plow ashore. But Feltgen says there's no way to tell if that's going to happen again this year.