An American university has updated its forecast for the 2024 hurricane season, slightly increasing the number of named storms it expects.

Colorado State University said that Hurricane Beryl, which recently battered the Caribbean as a Category 5 hurricane, was a “likely harbinger” of a hyperactive season fuelled by warmer than average waters.

“This warmth favours an active Atlantic hurricane season via dynamic and thermodynamic conditions that are conducive for developing hurricanes,” the forecast said.

“While early season storm activity in the western Atlantic typically has little relationship with overall basin-wide activity, deep tropical hurricane activity in the tropical Atlantic and eastern Caribbean, such as we saw with Beryl, is often associated with hyperactive seasons.”

CSU earlier forecasted 23 named storms for the hurricane season, which started on June 1, including 11 hurricanes, five of which were expected to reach at least Category 3 strength.

However, in a revised forecast released this month CSU increased its forecast to 25 named storms, including 12 hurricanes, half of which would become major hurricanes.

The numbers included the three named storms that have already formed, including Tropical Storm Alberto, Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Chris.

The CSU also said it expected reduced levels of vertical wind shear in the Atlantic with the possibility of La Niña conditions during the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season.

“This forecast is of above-normal confidence,” the university added. “We anticipate a well above-average probability for major hurricane landfalls along the continental United States coastline and in the Caribbean.

“As with all hurricane seasons, coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season.

“Thorough preparations should be made every season, regardless of predicted activity.”

The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 to November 30, with the modern average of about 14 named storms, including seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

However, weather forecasting bodies have broadly predicted that record warm waters and the possible return of La Niña conditions would result in a busier than average season.

The US-based National Hurricane Centre forecast an 85 per cent chance of a busier than average season with between 17 and 25 named storms, while the UK Met Office forecast 22 named storms during the season.