Expect at least eight to ten hurricanes this season, an American meteorologist said this week.

Dr. Dean Churchill, an assistant professor at the University of Miami, said that since Hurricane Emily in 1991, Bermudians had been experiencing fewer hurricanes. This season, however, Bermuda can expect normal to above normal hurricane activity.

"What happens in a previous year does not affect this year,'' said Dr.

Churchill. "The atmosphere has poor memory.'' He warned Bermudians not to get too complacent.

"Hurricanes are very difficult to accurately forecast. All a hurricane has to do is sneeze and miss the Island, but once you get it, there will be major effects.'' Dr. Churchill arrived from his home in Florida on Wednesday evening. He is here to meet the three Bermudians selected to take over weather forecasting at the Airport.

The three future meteorologists will spend two years at the University of Miami under Dr. Churchill's tutelage, with all expenses paid by Serco. They will then return to Bermuda and spend six months in operational training. The company is currently looking for two more Bermudians who also wish to become meteorologists.

"There are not many people who take an interest in Physics because there are not many jobs here that need it,'' said Mr. Leo O'Quinn, the manager of the new weather service.

Serco cannot reveal the names of the three Bermudians selected to study abroad because they have not yet tendered their resignations, but Mr. O'Quinn said they were all teachers.

There are already five Bermudians working as observers in the weather office.

FINGER ON THE EYE - Mr. Jamie Shaw puts his finger on the eye of a hurricane at the US Naval Air Station weather office.