Hurricane specialists at the University of Colorado revised their 2006 Atlantic season outlook downward on Friday, citing a sluggish start that produced only one hurricane through late August.
The updated forecast calls for 13 named storms, five hurricanes, and two intense hurricanes for the six-month season that began 1 June. The original projection had been 17 named storms, nine hurricanes, and five intense ones. The long-term seasonal averages are 9.6 named storms, 5.9 hurricanes, and 2.3 intense hurricanes.
The sole hurricane so far, Ernesto, reached that status for a single day on 27 August before weakening to a tropical storm moving over the eastern United States.
Co-author Philip Klotzbach said conditions point to a slightly below-average season, with far less activity than in either of the previous two years. Last year was historically active, producing 28 named storms, 15 hurricanes, and seven intense hurricanes.
Despite the reduced numbers, co-author William Gray cautioned that coastal residents should remain prepared. The team still expects September to be relatively busy, forecasting five named storms and three hurricanes, two of them major, during that month alone.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in September 2006, in its own words.