NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Atlantic hurricane season in 2015 will see fewer than the average number of storms, according to Colorado State University researchers.
Researchers Philip Klotzbach and William Gray say in a news release that cooler ocean temperatures and the expectation that favorable atmospheric conditions will continue through the summer months will mean fewer hurricanes.
The researchers released their report Thursday.
They say the Gulf Coast and East Coast both have a 15 percent chance of getting hit by a hurricane this season, well below the average for the last century of 30 percent.
Their forecast calls for seven named storms, of which three will become hurricanes with wind speeds of 74 mph or higher.
The federal forecast will be released later this spring.
