Bermuda will be better prepared to track this season's predicted upsurge in hurricanes after the weather station recently installed new equipment.

The St. David's site recently linked up to a new geo-station orbiting satellite which offers enhanced images, more channels and better picture quality of gathering storms.

Meteorologist Brian Kolts said: "It will provide a lot more information, have channels for temperature sensing and will improve forecasting."

The new kit, donated by the US Department of Commerce which is also funding similar upgrades up the East Coast, was installed last week.

Mr. Kolts said money for a new radar system had been approved and would improve short-term forecasting.

Earlier this month Colorado State University professor William Gray predicted the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season would be twice as severe as last year.

There were four hurricanes during the June 1 to November 30 hurricane season last year.

Dr. Gray and his associates predict eight for 2003, including three intense hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher.

The Weather Research Center, a private forecasting company based in Houston, predicts six hurricanes for the season.

Dr. Gray and his associates attribute the increase to the decline of El Nino, which suppressed hurricane activity last season. The forecasters also cite very warm sea surface temperatures combined with decreasing sea surface pressures in the Atlantic as factors.

He said the radar would better locate the tropical storm's centre than satellites, making the storm's movements easier to predict.