US weather experts predicted Thursday that there would be fewer Atlantic hurricanes than initially expected this year, according to dpa. There is now a 70 per cent chance of seven to 11 named storms, of which three to six could become hurricanes, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. One to two of those could be major storms, category 3 or higher, with winds above 178 kilometres per hour. NOAA forecasters said that El Nino - warmer than normal waters in the Pacific Ocean that can affect atmospheric conditions - is having a calming effect on the hurricane season. "El Nino may mean fewer storms compared to recent seasons, but it doesn't mean you can let your guard down," said Dr Jack Hayes of the National Weather Service. "Hurricanes can strike during El Nino." There has not been a named storm so far in the Atlantic storm season, which began on June 1 and ends Nov 30. This is the longest period without a named Atlantic storm since 1988, Bloomberg news reported.
