Significant hurricane threat seen for 2007 -WSI

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Atlantic Basin will face a significantly above average tropical storm threat this year including eight hurricanes, four of them intense, WSI Corporation said on Tuesday.

The forecast, which called for a total of 15 named storms, is well over the long-term average of 9.6 named storms, 5.9 hurricanes, and 2.3 intense hurricanes of category 3 strength or higher, WSI said.

Coming off a mild 2006 storm season, WSI said warm ocean temperatures pointed to harsher weather this year.

"Our seasonal temperature models depict a warm summer in the Southeast. If this occurs, the stronger-than-normal Atlantic subtropical ridge should act to steer more storms into the Gulf of Mexico than in a typical year," WSI seasonal forecaster Dr. Todd Crawford said in a press release.

Energy markets have been on edge following the 2005 tropical storm season, when hurricanes slammed U.S. offshore oil and natural gas platforms and shut coastal refineries, sending fuel prices to then-record highs.

Companies struggled for months to restore operations, and have increased precautions to maintain production this year.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Tuesday forecast 13-17 named storms for the 2007 hurricane season, including seven to 10 hurricanes and three to five hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.

Forecaster Accuweather predicted 13-14 named storms, of which six or seven could hit the United States. Colorado State University called for 17 tropical storms, of which nine would become hurricanes and five major hurricanes.