Busy October hurricane period is forecast

FORT COLLINS, Colo., Oct. 1 (UPI) -- U.S. hurricane forecasters William Gray and Phil Klotzbach say their October forecast calls for three named storms, two of them becoming hurricanes.

If that proves accurate, it would result in nearly twice the storm activity level of an average October.

The Colorado State University weather scientists noted they correctly predicted above average Net Tropical Cyclone activity, or NTC, for the month of September.

Gray, professor emeritus of atmospheric science, and Klotzbach, a research scientist, said that while they correctly predicted above-average September NTC, they predicted more activity than occurred.

"Our October-only forecast calls for 3 named storms, 2 hurricanes, 1 major hurricane and NTC activity of 35, which is well above the October-only average value of 18," they said. "We think we are now entering a new period of heightened activity that is likely to go for another two or three weeks.

"Information obtained through (Sept. 30) shows we have so far experienced 124 percent of the average of a full season's NTC activity and about 155 percent of the long-period average season through September," they said.

The Atlantic Ocean hurricane season begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30.