The first major hurricane season outlook was released Thursday by researchers from Colorado State University. Their forecast calls for slightly below-average activity in the Atlantic for the upcoming 2023 hurricane season.

The CSU forecast anticipates a total of 13 named storms and six hurricanes, two of which would be major hurricanes (Category 3 or above). An average season typically has 14 named storms and seven hurricanes, three of which would be major hurricanes.

There are several early indicators that suggest this decrease in tropical activity in the Atlantic this season. The biggest indicator is a likely El Nino. That typically causes warmer water in the Pacific Ocean that leads to unfavorable conditions for storms to form in the Atlantic, resulting in fewer storms.

However, sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean are currently very warm. It would take a long time for these temperatures to cool down. While the total number of storms may be fewer, they are likely to be wetter and more of a flooding threat if any storm tracks toward land.

This is the 40th year the researchers from CSU have released their hurricane season outlook, recently led by Dr. Philip Klotzbach. In his presentation at the National Tropical Weather Conference in Miami, Florida, he noted that this season's forecast has more uncertainty than most seasons because of the contradicting factors including El Nino and warm Atlantic Ocean water temperatures.

The News 12 Storm Watch Team will keep a close eye on the latest updates with hurricane season quickly approaching. The official first day of the Atlantic Hurricane Season is June 1.