Forecasters predict well above average US hurricane season

There is a 69% chance of a major hurricane hitting the US coastline in this years hurricane season, said researchers at Colorado State University.

The Colorado State University forecast team upgraded its early season forecast and predicted the U.S. Atlantic basin will likely experience a well above-average hurricane season.

"Current oceanic and atmospheric trends indicate that we will likely have an active Atlantic basin hurricane season," said William Gray, a hurricane forecaster at Colorado State University.

“Current oceanic and atmospheric trends indicate that we will likely have an active Atlantic basin hurricane season.

William Gray, a hurricane forecaster at Colorado State University

The team's forecast now anticipates 15 named storms forming in the Atlantic basin between June 1 and Nov. 30.

Eight of the storms are predicted to become hurricanes, and of those eight, four are expected to develop into intense or major.