RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The experts at Colorado State University have released their first seasonal forecast for the upcoming Atlantic Hurricane season. The forecast, released on Thursday, April 3, predicts an above-average season in the tropics, with a predicted 17 named storms, nine hurricanes an d four major hurricanes. Colorado State University is anticipating that the Atlantic Ocean will be dealing with ongoing La Nina conditions, which will eventually transition over to ENSO neutral conditions by the upcoming summer months. They do say there is uncertainty this summer and fall. Ocean temperatures across the eastern and central Atlantic Ocean are currently warmer than normal, but not as warm as last year at this particular time. The time is now to prepare for the upcoming Atlantic Hurricane Season. The season for the Atlantic Ocean runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. The experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will put out their 2025 Hurricane seasonal outlook later this spring, before the season officially begins. ...read more read less