 On April 3 a new forecast was issued , calling for a very active hurricane season of 17 named storms , nine hurricanes and five intense hurricanes . The increase in the forecast was attributed to the rapid dissipation of El Niño conditions . The team also forecast a neutral or weak @-@ to @-@ moderate La Niña and noted that sea surface temperatures were much higher than average . The estimated potential for at least one major hurricane to affect the U.S. was increased to 74 percent ; the East Coast potential increased to 50 percent , and from the Florida Panhandle westward to Brownsville , Texas , the probability rose to 49 percent . However , the team 's report noted that while they predicted an active season , it was not suggesting that 2007 would be " as active as the 2004 and 2005 seasons " . 
