Forecasters at Colorado State University are predicting a "well above-average" Atlantic hurricane season in 2008.

The forecasters are predicting 15 named storms, eight hurricanes and five major hurricanes -- Category 3 or higher -- for the season which begins June 1. The December prediction had called for 13 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

"We have increased our seasonal forecast from our initial early December prediction," forecasters William Gray and Philip Klotzbach wrote in their report. "We anticipate an above-average probability of United States major hurricane landfall."

An average of 5.9 hurricanes form in the Atlantic each year.

"The Atlantic is a bit warmer than in the past couple of years," said Klotzbach. "That is something we would like to keep an eye on."

Gray has been issuing his forecast for 25 years, but he and others have been criticized in recent years for having forecasts that were off the mark.

Past Hurricane Forecasts
HURRICANE SEASON	DEC. FORECAST	APRIL FORECAST	ACTUAL
2008	Named Storms: 13 Hurricanes: 7 Major Hurricanes: 3	Named Storms: 15 Hurricanes: 8 Major Hurricanes:5	Named Storms: Hurricanes: Major Hurricanes:
2007	Named Storms: 14 Hurricanes: 7 Major Hurricanes: 3	Named Storms: 17 Hurricanes: 9 Major Hurricanes: 5	Named Storms: 15 Hurricanes: 6 Major Hurricanes: 2
2006	Named Storms: 17 Hurricanes: 9 Major Hurricanes: 5	Named Storms: 17 Hurricanes: 9 Major Hurricanes: 5	Named Storms: 10 Hurricanes: 5 Major Hurricanes: 2
2005	Named Storms: 11 Hurricanes: 6 Major Hurricanes: 3	Named Storms: 13 Hurricanes: 7 Major Hurricanes: 3	Named Storms: 28 Hurricanes: 15 Major Hurricanes: 7
2004	Named Storms: 13 Hurricanes: 7 Major Hurricanes: 3	Named Storms: 14 Hurricanes: 8 Major Hurricanes: 3	Named Storms: 15 Hurricanes: 9 Major Hurricanes: 6
2003	Named Storms: 12 Hurricanes: 8 Major Hurricanes:3	Named Storms: 12 Hurricanes: 8 Major Hurricanes: 3	Named Storms: 16 Hurricanes: 7 Major Hurricanes: 3
Source: Colorado State University Department of Atmospheric Science Note: CSU makes its first forecast for each hurricane season is made the previous December.

2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season Names

• Arthur
• Bertha
• Cristobal
• Dolly
• Edouard
• Fay
• Gustav
• Hanna
• Ike
• Josephine
• Kyle
• Laura
• Marco
• Nana
• Omar
• Paloma
• Rene
• Sally
• Teddy
• Vicky
• Wilfred