The forecast team from Colorado State University is predicting an above-average 2013 Atlantic hurricane season with 18 named storms and nine hurricanes.
Of those nine hurricanes, four are expected to be major, according to the predictions released Wednesday by Colorado State's Phil Klotzbach and William Gray.
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They're also anticipating an above-average probability for major hurricanes making landfall along the U.S. coastline and in the Caribbean, mainly due to factors including warm sea surface temperatures and the unlikelihood of an El Nino phenomenon developing this season.
The Atlantic Basin annual average is 12 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
Last year saw an above-average season with 19 named storms, 10 hurricanes and two major hurricanes, highlighted by the massive and destructive Hurricane Sandy.
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Hurricane season begins June 1 and runs through November. Klotzbach and Gray will issue an update to their predictions on June 3 and again on Aug. 2.
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