Upcoming Hurricane Season Likely Strong

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The top U.S. hurricane expert said Thursday that this year's hurricane season is likely to be stronger than average, though short of the record 2005 season, the costliest on record.

"It would be an unbelievable record to have another season like that, that's just not very realistic," said Max Mayfield, director of the

National Hurricane Center

National Hurricane Center in Miami.

But he warned that this year's hurricane season, which officially begins on June 1, might be stronger than average.

"I think everybody is going to say we're going to have an above-average season here," Mayfield told a news conference at a San Juan hotel, adding: "We don't have the numbers worked out yet."

A record 27 tropical storms formed in 2005, with seven becoming major hurricanes — including four that made landfall in the United States.