Atlantic May Have 10 Tropical Storms From July Through November

June 19 (Bloomberg) -- The Atlantic hurricane season probably will have 10 systems of at least tropical-storm strength from July through November, U.K. government meteorologists said, a prediction that's lower than other forecasts.

The Met Office prediction is the first based on computer climate models to process current oceanic and atmospheric conditions and project them into the future, the forecaster said. In trials in 2005 and 2006, the method proved more accurate than traditional forecasts using historical analysis, the agency said.

``What has happened in the past is not necessarily representative of what will happen in the future,'' Met Office forecaster Matt Huddleston told reporters and insurers at the Lloyds of London building in the U.K. capital's financial district. ``It's imperative that we start to take into account the changes from global warming and use these climate models.''

Today's prediction, lower than the average of 12.4 tropical storms a year since 1990, doesn't include the two tropical storms that have already occurred nor any systems that may form before the end of this month. The Met Office tally is lower than those from the U.S. National Hurricane Center, Colorado State University and London-based consultant Tropical Storm Risk, which all predicted that this season will be more active than usual.

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