"The 2012 Atlantic hurricane season will be 'below average' with 10 tropical storms, four of which will strengthen into hurricanes, Colorado State University forecasters predicted on Wednesday."

"Two of those will become major hurricanes with winds of at least 111 miles per hour, the team founded by forecasting pioneer William Gray said.

In an average year, there are 11 tropical storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico during the season that runs from June 1 to November 30.

The outlook for a milder 2012 season was based on two main factors. Hurricanes thrive on warm water and the tropical Atlantic has cooled this year, the researchers said. There is also a 'fairly high' likelihood that an El Nino effect will develop this summer, they said."

Jane Sutton reports for Reuters April 5, 2012. [2]