 The National Hurricane Center uses ACE to rank hurricane seasons as above @-@ normal , near @-@ normal , and below @-@ normal . It defines below @-@ normal as having an ACE less than 95 * 104 kt2 kt2 ; It defines above normal as having an ACE above 150 * 104 kt2 along with the numbers of any two of the following above average : tropical storms ( 15 ) , hurricanes ( 9 ) , or major hurricanes ( 4 ) ; It defines near @-@ normal as having an ACE between 100 * 104 kt2 and 150 * 104 kt2 , or an ACE above 150 * 104 kt2 with fewer than two of the numbers of the following above average : tropical storms ( 15 ) , hurricanes ( 9 ) , or major hurricanes ( 4 ) . 
