Forecasters expect active hurricane season

A London-based weather research team is predicting that the Atlantic Hurricane season, which began in June, will be a lot busier than expected.



The group, Tropical Storm Risk, said it expects 18 tropical storms, with nine strengthening into hurricanes.



The research team said four or five of the hurricanes would be intense, with top sustained winds in excess of 111 miles per hour.



Two of the five storms that have already formed this year, Bertha and Dolly, have reached hurricane strength.



An average Atlantic season has around 10 storms, including six hurricanes.