Bermuda's weather watchdogs last night warned that a slow start to the hurricane season did not mean Bermuda will escape being hit.

Dave Forbes of Bermuda Weather Service said: "I would say to people `don't let your guard down' -- July is traditionally quite quiet.

"It can have a bit of action, but August and September are the most likely months, then it drops off again.'' And he warned householders to take the usual hurricane season precautions in good time, rather than waiting until a storm is about to hit the Island.

The Weather Service warning is in line with the views of hurricane expert Dr.

William Gray of Colorado State University.

Despite a slow start, this still could be a busy hurricane season, he warned at the weekend.

In his final update for the season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, Dr.

Gray predicted there will be 14 named storms, nine hurricanes and four intense hurricanes.

Dr. Gray's research team said there is a 54 percent chance at least one storm will make landfall along the US east coast, while the gulf coast has a 40 percent chance of being hit, the team said.

He added this season will be similar to last year, when there were 14 tropical storms, ten hurricanes and three intense hurricanes. It is not unusual for there to be no hurricanes until mid- or late August.

Only one named storm, Arlene, has formed so far.

Dr. Gray's forecasts have proved close to the mark most years and are taken seriously by officials.

Meteorologist Mr. Forbes said: "That's not to say any of these will come anywhere near Bermuda. The odds are, in August anyway, that there probably won't be -- but one has to keep one's eyes open.

"Whatever people need to have done to their houses to make them storm-proof, it would certainly be prudent to do it now.''