As the June 1 Atlantic Hurricane season approaches,AccuWeather.com echoes earlier predictions by saying Atlantic basinresidents can expect an active hurricane season.

AccuWeather.com predicts a total of 16 named storms–eightof which will become hurricanes–with three hitting the U.S.during the hurricane season June 1-November 30.

The assessment, subject to change as the season progresses, alsocalls for four major hurricanes this year. A major storm is aCategory 3 or higher storm with winds in excess of 111 mph. Lastyear, there were 19 named storms, 10 of which became hurricanes.One became a major storm and four made landfall.

AccuWeather says the season may begin quickly with developmentin the Caribbean in June, but it will otherwise be normal indevelopment compared to last year. Last year two named storms,Alberto and Beryl, developed in May.

AccuWeather Expert Senior Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski says lastyear's early storms were an anomaly and this year's developmentshould be “more in line with a typical active season.”

The combination of warm water across the Atlantic and Caribbean,paired with less frequent wind shear will result in above-normalnumbers, says AccuWeather. NOAA puts the average figure of tropicalstorms in a year at 12.

AccuWeather says that the storms might be stronger than lastyear because of a reduction in Saharan dust that can stifle stormdevelopment. The winds that form Atlantic basin storms generatefrom Africa.

Analyzing specific regions, Kottlowski notes that Florida hasnot had a direct hit from a hurricane since Hurricane Wilma in2005, and is long overdue. He also says that while “It would bevery difficult for a storm to hit right where Sandy hit,” thepossibility of adverse weather developments in the Northeast stillremain.

The New York and New Jersey areas impacted by Superstorm Sandyare more vulnerable now because the storm weakened the protectivedune system along the coast.

The renowned Colorado State University forecasters Philp J.Klotzbach and William M. Gray released their early season prediction last month, with a forecast of 18named storms, nine hurricanes and four majorhurricanes.