A US-based weather company increased its forecast for the development of major hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean this year, while Colorado State University storm watchers again predicted a “well-above-average” season.AccuWeather, based in State College, Pennsylvania, boosted its forecast for storms of Category 3 or higher to four yesterday, from the three it predicted in March.It predicted a total of 15 named storms, which have sustained winds reaching 39 mph or above.Colorado State’s tropical meteorology team also issued an update that held to an earlier forecast of five major hurricanes; those with winds of 111 mph (179 kph) or greater.It predicted 16 named storms, with nine of them reaching hurricane level.Both AccuWeather and Colorado State see the 2011 season as less active than last year, which tied for third on record with 19 named storms.The official US forecast, issued last month by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, was for 12 to 18 named storms, with six to 10 becoming hurricanes and three to six growing into major systems.The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season began yesterday with a potential tropical storm system 200 miles east of Jacksonville, Florida. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami gave it a 30 percent chance of developing into a cyclone.