Colorado hurricane researchers are forecasting five tropical storms in the Atlantic in September, including four hurricanes, two of them major.
Former Colorado State University climatologist William Gray said that would be nearly twice as busy as an average September. Gray has been issuing hurricane forecasts at Colorado State University for 25 years.
Tropical Storm Ike, which formed Monday, and Tropical Storm Josephine, which formed Tuesday, count toward the five storms in the September forecast, said Phil Klotzbach, a member of the research team and author of the September report.
Klotzbach said Hanna, which reached hurricane strength on Monday before weakening back to a tropical storm on Tuesday, counts toward the four hurricanes forecast for September. However, it isn’t included in September’s five expected tropical storms because it initially held that status in August.
Three other Atlantic hurricanes have been recorded so far this season: Bertha and Dolly in July and Gustav in August.
The team’s latest predictions cover only September and are not a revision of its season-long forecast. The team’s most recent seasonal prediction, issued Aug. 5, called for a total of nine Atlantic hurricanes during the season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.


Banks Still Face Legal Claims After $25 Billion Settlement
MF Global Judge to Examine Insurance Payments for Former Executives
Daredevil CEOs May Put Companies at Risk
California Independent Contractor Law May Be Liability for Agents, Brokers
North Carolina Continues Auto Regulation Debate As Rates Stay Same for 2012
Long-time California Lobbyist Looks to 2012 Legislation Affecting Insurance
Mine Safety Chief Seeks to End Complacency Over Safety
Virginia Court Grants Rehearing of Global Warming Claims Case


