Forecasters predict 15 storms this hurricane season

WASHINGTON (AP) —

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the United States has predicted nine to 15 named storms this Atlantic hurricane season.

It says four to eight of them will become hurricanes and two to four of those would become major hurricanes, with 111 mph winds or higher.

Last year had 15 named storms, eight hurricanes and two major ones, Florence and Michael. The Atlantic basin averages 12 named storms a year, with six becoming hurricanes and three becoming major storms.