"We are not off the hook by any means," said retired Navy Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, who heads the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

"This year's three named storms may pale in comparison to the record nine storms that formed through early August 2005, but conditions will be favorable for above-normal activity for the rest of this season," said Lautenbacher.

None of the three tropical storms named since the June 1 start of the season developed into hurricanes.

NOAA said it expected a total of 12 to 15 named storms to develop in the Atlantic during the season that ends November 30, of which seven to nine will intensify into hurricanes. Three or four would become major hurricanes, packing winds of at least 178 kilometers (111 miles) per hour.

The forecast represents a sharp downturn from last year's 28 storms, 15 of which became hurricanes, including the super-storms Katrina and Rita that devastated the US Gulf of Mexico coastline.

NOAA stressed it could not predict at this stage which areas would be at risk. "Exactly when and where landfall occurs is strongly controlled by the weather patterns in place as the storms approach land," said NOAA forecaster Gerry Bell. "These weather patterns generally cannot be predicted more than several days in advance."

Experts urged residents of hurricane-prone areas to be informed and prepared.

"Remember, one hurricane hitting your neighborhood is enough to make it a bad season," said Max Mayfield, who heads the Miami-based National Hurricane Center.

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