 On April 9 , CSU also released its first quantitative forecast for the 2015 hurricane season , predicting 7 named storms , 3 hurricanes , 1 major hurricane , and a cumulative ACE index of 40 units . The combination of cooler than average waters in the tropical and subtropical Atlantic , as well as a developing El Niño predicted to reach at least moderate intensity , were expected to favor one of the least active seasons since the mid @-@ 1990s . The probabilities of a major hurricane striking various coastal areas across the Atlantic were lower than average , although CSU stressed that it only takes one landfalling hurricane to make it an active season for residents involved . On April 13 , North Carolina State University ( NCSU ) released its forecast , predicting a near record @-@ low season with just 4 to 6 named storms , 1 to 3 hurricanes , and 1 major hurricane . 
