The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting further heavy hurricane activity in 2005 on the heels of last year’s historically destructive season.

“Our prediction for the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season is for 12-15 tropical storms with seven to nine becoming hurricanes, of which three to five could become major hurricanes,” said NOAA administrator Conrad Lautenbacher. “Forecaster confidence that this will be an active hurricane season is very high.”

This latest outlook reflects an expected continuation of above-average activity that began in 1995, Dr Lautenbacher explained.

Since then eight out of 10 hurricane seasons have been above normal. NOAA documents the season as starting on June 1 and ending on November 30, although the peak runs between August and October.

“Impacts from hurricanes and tropical storms and their remnants do not stop at the coast,” said David Johnson, director with the NOAA national weather service.

“These storms carry severe weather such as tornadoes and flooding while moving inland.”

In 2004, hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne all swept through Florida and the Caribbean. In Florida they caused $45 billion of damage - much of it to the citrus sector.

The grapefruit crop in the Sunshine State fell to its lowest levels since 1935-36 and the orange crop hit a 13-year low. Any further hurricane damage this season would prove hugely detrimental to an already beleaguered industry.

Separately, the University of Colorado has announced a 53 per cent chance of hurricanes hitting the eastern US seaboard, especially Florida’s Atlantic coast.

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