BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

As the region keeps its eye on the latest tropical depression in the Atlantic, hurricane forecasters are predicting a less active 2006 season than earlier predicted.

In their latest forecast Colorado State University forecasters William Gray and Philip Klotzbach reduced the season's outlook from the one issued in August, but warned all persons in the hurricane zone not to drop their guard.

"Following below-average activity in August, we are significantly reducing our seasonal forecast. We expect slightly above-average activity in September and that October will likely have below-average activity. We now predict that total seasonal activity will be slightly below the long-term average," the forecasters said.

Contributing factors

In their new forecast the experts expect 13 storms and five hurricanes for the entire 2006 season, down from 15 storms and seven hurricanes expected in the August forecast.

Of these, five named storms and three hurricanes are expected in September, while two named storms and one hurricane are expected in October.

"We now expect that the 2006 hurricane season will have slightly less hurricane activity than the long-term average. This is due to an unexpected increase in tropical Atlantic mid-level dryness (with large amounts of African dust) and a continued trend towards El NiF1o-like conditions in the eastern and central Pacific," the forecasters gave as the reason for their reduced forecast. The next forecast will be issued on October 3.

Meanwhile forecasters at the National Hurricane Centre said tropical depression six could become a tropical storm later yesterday.