More tropical storms will make landfall in 2011: AccuWeather.com

AccuWeather.com’s hurricane centre is predicting more U.S. hurricane landfalls for 2011, including a risk during the late season of tropical storms sweeping through New England and the Canadian Maritimes.
Overall, the centre predicted fewer tropical storms in 2011 than in 2010.
Nevertheless, the centre’s estimated number of tropical storms (15), hurricanes (8) and “major hurricanes” of Category 3 or higher (3) in 2011 are all above seasonal average.
And while there may be fewer storms this year than last, more of this year’s hurricanes will affect the U.S. coastline than in 2010, AccuWeather.com predicts.
“It looks like we’re going to have more impact on the mainland of the U.S. coming up this year compared to last year,” said AccuWeather.com meteorologist and hurricane forecaster Paul Pastelok. “We had a lot of storms last year [19 in total], but not a lot of impact on the U.S.”
The forecaster said the position and orientation of the Azores high-pressure area in the Atlantic ocean, the weakening of an ongoing La Nina system and the frequency and amount of dust (indicating dry air) moving off the African Coast are all factors in predicting which way the storms may move.
“As with most Atlantic hurricane seasons, the areas where storms are most likely to make landfall shift as the season progresses,” AccuWeather.com notes.
The forecaster predicts the early season threat will be near the western Gulf of Mexico and the southern portion of the Caribbean. “Within this zone, the higher concern for landfalls will be along the Texas and Louisiana coastlines.”
But the mid to late season may see a shift in storm direction towards the eastern Gulf and Caribbean areas. This could shift to the northeastern area of the United States by the late season, AccuWeather predicts. “Another mid-to-late season concern for landfalls will be northern New England and the Canadian Maritimes.”