Hurricane Season; storms named

It’s June first and that means it’s officially the start of the hurricane season.  There have already been two named storms, Alberto near South Carolina and Beryl near Jacksonville Florida, but predictions are for an average season. A total of ten named storms are forecasted, six are expected to become hurricanes, but only two will be category three or stronger. The next name on the list for 2012 will be Chris followed by Debby, Ernesto, Florence, Gordon, Helene, Isaac, Joyce, Kirk, Leslie, Michael, Nadine, Oscar, Patty, Rafael, Sandy, Tony, Valerie and William. Predictions from the Met Office are in line with those prepared by Klotzbach and Grey, Colorado State University, which also forecasts ten named storms, with four becoming hurricanes. Similarly, the Cuban Meteorological Service predicts ten named storms, with five strengthening to hurricanes.