NU Online News Service, May 25, 11:32 a.m.EDT

Weather Services International (WSI) has issued another updateto its 2011 predictions for what will surely be a closely watchedhurricane season in the Atlantic beginning in about a week.

WSI, a member of the Weather Channel Cos., forecasts 15 namedstorms, eight hurricanes and four intense hurricanes for the 2011Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1.

An active season does not necessarily mean storms will find U.S.land. Last year’s historic season of 19 named storms and 12hurricanes meant nothing to the United States, as no storm madeU.S. landfall.

However, WSI Chief Meteorologist Todd Crawford says, “We doexpect a much more impactful season along the U.S. coastline.”

The U.S. has been spared a hurricane landfall since 2008, butthe country has not had a three-year stretch without a landfallsince the 1860s, he adds.

The forecast is unchanged from the one issued by the Andover,Mass.-based company last month and it is generally in line withother forecasts.

Most recently the National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration says conditions in the Atlantic were ripe for 12-18named storms, 6-10 hurricanes and 3-6 intense hurricanes, and thewell-known team at Colorado State University calls for 16 namedstorms, nine hurricanes and five intense hurricanes.

Intense, or major, hurricanes are Category 3 or above on theSaffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which mean the storm packssustained winds of 111-130 mph and is expected to cause seriousdamage.

Each of the forecasts exceeds what is considered the historicalaverage hurricane season, although what is defined as “average”varies somewhat according to the source. Predictions for 2011 dofall within the level of activity that has occurred during anactive tropical period that began in 1995, says Crawford. Since1995 the season has averaged 15 named storms, eight hurricanes andfour intense hurricanes.