According to Floridatoday.com, despite two consecutive years of missing the mark, a research team at Colorado State University again foresees an above average hurricane season for 2008.

William Gray's team expects 13 named storms, seven of them hurricanes — and three of those Category 3 or greater. Category 3 on the Saffir/Simpson scale is a storm with sustained winds of 111 mph or greater.

In the just-concluded 2007 season, there were 14 named storms, six of them hurricanes and two of Category 3 or greater.

The Atlantic basin hurricane season runs June 1 and Nov. 30.