expert.

Colorado State University professor Dr. William Gray has forecast a "below average'' season.

But he warned people to remain on their guard.

Dr. Gray predicted there would be five hurricanes this season, which started on June 1.

One of the hurricanes would be severe -- although he could not tell its course, he stressed.

The last time Bermuda felt the effects of a hurricane was in 1989.

Hurricane Dean caused hundreds of thousands of damage when it brushed by the Island, bringing winds of 86 m.p.h., with gusts reaching 110 m.p.h.

In 1992, Bermuda was spared the hurricanes and tropical storms which hit the United States.

Hurricane Andrew wreaked havoc in Florida and Louisiana and claimed 55 lives.

But it stayed clear of Bermuda.

Predicting hurricanes is notoriously difficult, and most official organisations -- including the Naval Oceanography Command Facility -- don't do so.

Dr. Gray, for instance, forecast 1993 would be the worst hurricane season for years, causing 50 percent more damage than 1992 in the Atlantic Ocean region.

He predicted it would be a repeat of 1989 -- the year of Hurricane Dean.

In the event, however, last year was relatively mild.

Dr. Gray said initial indicators pointed to a higher than average hurricane season this year.

But "meteorological data'' for April and May suggested "a below average'' season.

One of Dr. Gray's key indicators is the rainfall in West Africa.

The rainfall had been "below average'' -- and this generally "goes along with a below average intensive system'', he said.

Dr. Gray was at pains to warn people about the dangers of still being hit by hurricanes.

"Even if one storm comes over you it is an active year,'' he said.

Mr. Richard Pasch, a forecaster for Miami-based National Hurricane Centre, was also cautious.

"We don't make long term predictions,'' he stressed.

Mr. Pasch said the hurricane centre remained on constant alert.

"We anticipate we will get some hurricanes. We need to be ready,'' explained.

Mr. Pasch said Bermuda was usually threatened "once every few years'' by hurricanes.

"There is no way we can specify whether it is going to be this year or the next year.'' WARNING OVER RUDE T-SHIRTS CRM Warning over rude T-shirts T-shirts and other clothing with obscene messages written on them are against the law in Bermuda.

This was the warning from Police yesterday after they received a recent slew of complaints from members of the public about people wearing clothing, mainly T-shirts, displaying obscene messages, including four-letter swear words -- correct and incorrectly spelled, and cartoon animals in sexual positions.

"We would like to point out that it is an offence to wear or sell clothing displaying such obscene messages that may be offensive to others,'' Police spokesman P.c. Gary Venning said.

"This is so, whether the obscenity is written or in the form of a picture.

While it may be fashionable, it is not permitted by law and we would strongly urge those responsible not to wear them in public.''