US experts predict 6 major hurricanes this year

The satellite image shows the view of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Monday, May 22, 2006, predicted a busy Atlantic hurricane season this year, with eight to 10 hurricanes, but not a repeat of the season in 2005. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

    WASHINGTON, May 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. weather experts predicted on Monday up to six major hurricanes for this year's Atlantic hurricane season, fewer than last year's seven Category 3 or higher hurricanes.

    For the 2006 North Atlantic hurricane season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted 13 to 16 named storms, with eight to 10 becoming hurricanes, of which four to six could become major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher, said Conrad Lautenbacher, administrator of the Miami-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

    The hurricane season starts June 1 and ends Nov. 30.

    The number of storms would be smaller than last year's record 28 named storms, with 15 of them hurricanes.

    Meteorologists initially predicted 12 to 15 tropical storms last year. They predicted seven to nine of the storms to be hurricanes, and three to five of major ones last year.

    Four major hurricanes struck the United States last year, and the most destructive of them was Hurricane Katrina, which left over 1,300 people dead and many others displaced.

    Meanwhile, the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, which was devastated by Katrina with much of the city once submerged and over 1,000 people dead, will conduct exercises this week to test new evacuation plans and emergency response strategies in case a major hurricane would strike this year, in an effort to avoid confusion, particularly among the poor.

    Thousands of people, especially the poor, were left behind in New Orleans last year, when Katrina was approaching the city in late August and others were fleeing for safety. Enditem

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