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.

Andrew. Around these parts, no need to put "hurricane" in front of it. We know the name refers to the most destructive storm ever to hit the Gold Coast's tri-county area, wreaking most of its wrath on Miami-Dade County. It happened 15 years ago today.

Millions of people throughout South Florida still vividly remember the horrific early morning hours of Aug. 24, 1992. Compact and destructive as a buzz-saw, Andrew slashed ashore near Homestead with sustained winds of 165 mph, and gusts topping 200 mph.

Read more on the Sun-Sentinel Hurricane Headquarters website

(Source: Sun-Sentinel) Florida's golden reputation for its sure-handed hurricane response in 2004 may be tarnished a bit. In a rush to gird the state for future storms, the Legislature devoted $151 million in state and federal funds last year to buy giant generators for special-needs hurricane shelters, open a central warehouse in Orlando that could quickly ship out supplies and "harden" local emergency centers.

Nationally, it was an unprecedented feat for a state to attempt. But nearly 18 months later:

* Most of the 52 generators are sitting in an Ocala warehouse -- because the Florida Division of Emergency Management needs another $51.5 million to install them.

Read more on the Sun-Sentinel Hurricane Headquarters website

As the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season officially came to a close on November 30, NOAA scientists are carefully reviewing a set of dynamic weather patterns that yielded lower-than-expected hurricane activity across the Atlantic Basin. As a result, the United States was largely spared from significant landfalling storms. However several noteworthy events took place, including two back-to-back Category 5 hurricanes hitting Central America and the rapid near-shore intensification of the single U.S. landfalling hurricane. Read more on the National Hurricane Center website.