Based on research data obtained through July, we foresee one of the most active hurricane seasons on record.

We expect a season nearly as active as this year's (1998),

Unfortunately, the very active season we have seen to this point is not yet over.

We've had a very active season, but the probability of getting landfall in consecutive years like in 2004 and 2005 is very low.

Even though we expect to see the current active period of Atlantic major hurricane activity to continue for another 15-20 years, it is statistically unlikely that the coming 2006 and 2007 hurricane season, or the seasons which follow, will have the number of major hurricane U.S. landfall events as we have seen in 2004-2005.

Even with the increased forecast numbers, this won't be one of the worst seasons of the century, ... but we are anticipating an active season not unlike several of the most recent years.

The climate signals are such that this looks like it's going to be an active year. Atlantic sea-surface temperatures are very warm. That's a major factor.