Up to eight hurricanes due this storm season

Miami:  US forecasters predicted on Thursday that this year's Atlantic hurricane season would produce a normal number of about nine to 15 tropical storms, with as many as four to eight of those becoming hurricanes.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its initial outlook for the six-month storm season that officially begins June 1. One to three storms could become major hurricanes with top winds of 178km/h or higher.

Though this season isn't expected to be as busy as last year's above-average season, federal officials warned coastal residents to start stocking up on hurricane supplies and forming evacuation plans anyway.

Emergency shelters

"That's still a lot of activity. So just because we're predicting a near normal season doesn't mean anybody's off the hook at all," said Gerry Bell, the lead seasonal forecaster at NOAA's Climate Prediction Centre.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Bud strengthened into a major storm and was expected make land yesterday in an area of beach resorts and small mountain villages on the Pacific coast stretching south from Puerto Vallarta.

Authorities cancelled school in 11 communities expected to be hit by heavy rains in Jalisco state, and emergency workers began preparing emergency shelters.