decades will be more destructive than ever, another specialist said that it's impossible to predict what's in store for Bermuda this hurricane season.

Richard Pasch of the National Hurricane Centre in Miami said: "I couldn't say if a low pressure trough is setting up two months (in advance) to steer a hurricane to your area or not. A trough could turn a hurricane over Bermuda.

But that's not predictable. It's only predicable a few days ahead.

With other weather watchers predicting an El Nino pattern could make this a less-active hurricane season, noted forecaster William Gray said: Not so fast.

"We're entering a new era in hurricanes,'' the Colorado State University professor said, releasing a new forecast that supports his earlier predictions for above-average hurricane activity.

"We're undoubtedly going to see more destructive hurricanes, maybe not this year, maybe next year,'' Mr. Gray told a conference in Tampa, Florida. "In the next ten to 20 years, we're going to see hurricane destruction like we've never before seen.'' Mr. Pasch said that Mr. Gray's report is a "general overview of weather conditions across the tropics.'' Mr. Gray is sticking to the prediction he issued in April. He believes 11 tropical storms will form in the 1997 season and seven will become hurricanes -- including three intense hurricanes.

On average, 9.3 tropical storms, 5.8 hurricanes and 2.1 major hurricanes form each year. If Mr. Gray is right, this will be the third year of above-average hurricane activity in the Atlantic region, which includes the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico.

The Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1 and runs through November.

He believes the new era in hurricanes will look much like the period from 1947 to 1969, when the United States was pounded 17 times by powerful hurricanes.

Those storms pummelled coastlines from Texas to New York's Long Island, killing nearly 2,200 and causing billions of dollars in damage.

Hurricane activity calmed down in 1970. Since then, only three monster storms have hit the United States: Gloria, Hugo and Andrew. But that less-intense trend was reversed in the past two seasons, Mr. Gray said.

In 1995, 19 tropical storms were recorded with 11 becoming hurricanes. Last season, nine hurricanes formed from 13 tropical storms although most veered away from the US coastline.

Mr. Gray predicts the hurricanes will become more destructive, not only because the cyclones are becoming more intense, but also because of the rapid buildup of people and property along the southeastern US coast.

His predictions are based on a number of global weather conditions, including El Nino, a warming of the Pacific whose long-range effects include a decline in hurricanes in the Southeast.

The pattern grew faster then he expected, but he doubts it will slow hurricane activity this year because other patterns in the Atlantic Ocean are so ripe for high hurricane activity, he said.

"We don't think this El Nino is going to progress much stronger and it may even weaken.''