A US research team has renewed its forecast for an ‘above average’ Atlantic storm season - that begins today.The Colorado State University hurricane research team predicted 17 tropical storms, with nine growing to hurricane strength.

Of those, five will grow into major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher with winds over 110 mph, the team founded by forecast pioneer William Gray said in its revised forecast. The updated forecast issued yesterday was unchanged from the team’s April 3 forecast for the six-month storm season that starts today.

The researchers said there was a 74 percent chance that at least one major hurricane would hit the US coastline in 2007, with a 50 percent chance that would happen on the Atlantic coast and a 49 percent chance on the Gulf of Mexico.

An average season brings 11 tropical storms, with six reaching hurricane wind speed of 74 mph and two growing into major hurricanes.

Other private and government weather researchers have also predicted a more active season than average. But so far none have forecast anything like a repeat of record-breaking 2005, when 28 tropical storms spawned 15 hurricanes.