( CNN ) -- Despite some early storms this year , forecasters Thursday predicted a near-normal Atlantic hurricane season with nine to 15 named storms , including four to eight hurricanes and one to three major hurricanes . Gerry Bell , lead hurricane season forecaster at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center , told reporters that uncertainty about whether the El Nino weather pattern will form made it difficult to be more precise . The hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 . For the Atlantic Ocean , a normal season would produce 12 named storms , including six hurricanes and three major ones . A major hurricane , designated as Category 3 or greater , packs winds of well over 100 miles per hour . Hurricane Bud now a Category 2 . In addition , forecasters predicted a near-normal Eastern Pacific hurricane season , with 12 to 18 named storms , including five to nine hurricanes and two to five major hurricanes . An average season in the Eastern Pacific produces 15 named storms , eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes . It is extremely rare for an Eastern Pacific hurricane to affect the U.S. mainland , though some do have an influence on Hawaii . Thursday 's announcement came as Hurricane Bud strengthened to a Category 2 storm as it churned toward the southwestern coast of Mexico in the Eastern Pacific . In addition , Tropical Storm Alberto broke up in the Atlantic this week and another tropical depression was causing heavy rainfall in southern Florida , Bell said . However , he said the early storms were no harbinger of a more active season than normal . CNN 's Sean Morris contributed to this report .
NEW : Early storms a more active season do n't portend a more active season , forecasters say . Up to three named Eastern Pacific storms are expected , including three to three major hurricanes . A major hurricane packs winds well over 100 miles per hour . Uncertainty over formation of an El Nino weather pattern affects the prediction .