Below average hurricane season expected

(WALA) - This prediction is from Colorado State's annual review of potential for how much tropical activity will occur in a given season. 

On average, there are 11 tropical storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico during the season that runs from June 1 to November 30.

The research team has stated that the reason they are going with a "below average" season is due to two main factors:

1.) The Atlantic Ocean is cooler than average

2.) There is fairly high likelihood of an El Nino pattern this summer

El Nino summers mean that waters in the Pacific Ocean are warmer than average and this in turn creates a domino effect that brings high wind shear to the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Wind shear is a tropical system's kryptonite and makes development very difficult.

Keep in mind that last season was predicted to be and was very active. But because the Gulf didn't see much activity, it was thought of as quiet. Of course as we all know it only takes one hurricane to make landfall near you for it to be a very bad season