US government forecasters predicted on Thursday a milder Atlantic storm season this year than in 2008, with four to seven hurricanes, as many as three of them with highly destructive potential.

The specialists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said there was a 70 percent probability that nine to 14 tropical storms powerful enough to be named will form during the hurricane season from June to September.

Half of those could reach hurricane strength, with sustained winds of more than 119 kilometers per hour (74 miles per hour), they said during a press conference outside Washington.

The deadly 2008 hurricane season — one of the most active in the past 60 years — saw the formation of 16 tropical storms and eight hurricanes, five of them considered major hurricanes with winds of more than 178 kilometers per hour (111 mph).

The storms devastated areas of Cuba and Haiti, as well parts of the United States, leaving hundreds dead, mostly in Haiti, and causing billions of dollars in damages.

For the first time ever six consecutive tropical storms — Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike — made landfall on US territory in 2008, while four major hurricanes struck Haiti and three hit Cuba.

The NOAA experts did not predict when or where hurricanes could form and strike this year, and urged residents to prepare.

"This outlook is a guide to the overall expected seasonal activity," said Gerry Bell, lead hurricane forecaster at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.

"However, the outlook is not just about the numbers, it's also about taking action," he said.

The head of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Craig Fugate, warned that some hurricanes would likely make landfall in the United States.

"Hurricanes will destroy homes," Fugate said. "People need to heed the preparedness message and be ready to act."

More than 35 million people live in US regions threatened by Atlantic hurricanes, said Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.

"Timely and accurate warnings of severe weather help save lives and property," he said.

The first tropical storm of the 2009 season will receive the name of "Ana," followed by "Bill," "Claudette" and "Danny."

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