The Atlantic hurricane season next year should be another busy one, according to the forecasters.

Above-normal Atlantic Ocean temperatures and favorable wind shear conditions will fuel the tropical weather, officials said.

Weather Services International, based in Andover, Mass., predicts 17 named storms, nine hurricanes and five intense hurricanes of Category 3 or higher in the Atlantic basin in 2011, according to forecast information released Wednesday.

The hurricane season begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30.

This year, 19 named storms formed in the Atlantic, tying for third-highest on record with 1887 and 1995, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Twelve of the storms became hurricanes and three grew to Category 3 or higher.

Still, no major hurricanes struck the U.S. coastline.

-Special to the Star-News