Santo Domingo.- The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts as many as 15 named storms during the Atlantic hurricane season, but noted that the effects of the Pacific Ocean La Niña could keep the figure to a low of nine.
In a statement issued 9am EST, NOAA said as many as 11 of the named storms could reach hurricane strength, and predicts that two will become major hurricanes.
In a related development the Miami based National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Bud is still churning west of Mexico as a category 2 storm.