NU Online News Service, March 31, 3:04 p.m.EST

Earlyindications point to a more active hurricane season for the UnitedStates in 2011 compared to last year, AccuWeather.com HurricaneCenter meteorologists say.

Though activity during last year’s hurricane season was high,with 19 named storms and 12 hurricanes, the U.S. was not directlyaffected by a landfall.

However in 2011 Texas could see action as early as June andearly July, says Paul Pastelok, long-range forecasting team leader.Forecaster Dan Kottlowski adds that by mid- to late-season,Florida, southeastern states and the Gulf States could be impactedby a landfall.

AccuWeather.com marks the Texas Gulf coast, the south tip ofFlorida and the Carolinas as areas of higher concern for the 2011hurricane season.

The hurricane season begins June first and lasts until the endof November.

The team predicts another year of higher-than-normal stormactivity with 15 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanesof at least Category 3 strength.

At the start of the year the team of Philip Klotzbach andWilliam Gray at Colorado State University's Tropical MeteorologyProject projected 17 named storms in 2011, includingnine hurricanes and five major hurricanes.

Weather Services International (WSI), part of the WeatherChannel Companies, delivered the same prediction for the 2011season.