Facts and predictions about the 2005 hurricane season from The Associated Press & Tampa Bay Online

THE ATLANTIC FORECAST
-- NOAA staffers say the U-S should be ready for 2 or 3 Atlantic hurricanes to make landfall.
-- They predict 12 or 15 tropical storms will form in the ocean. -- They predict 7 to 9 hurricanes.
-- They predict 3 to 5 major hurricanes. A major hurricane has winds of at least 111 mph.
-- Those predictions indicate a worse than average hurricane season.

TROPICAL STORMS THIS YEAR
-- Tropical Depression One named "Arlene" on June 9. Downgraded on June 11.
-- Arlene started off the Central American coast and came ashore near the Florida-Alabama line.
-- Tropical Depression Two became "Bret" on June 28. Downgraded on June 29.
-- Bret started off the east coast of Mexico and hit land in the same area.
-- Tropical Depression Three named "Cindy" on July 5.
-- Cindy began as a depression off the Central American coast and came ashore in southern Louisiana on July 6.
-- Tropical Depression Four named "Dennis" on July 5.
-- Dennis hits Florida's Gulf Coast on July 10, dropping to Category Three just before landfall.
-- Tropical Depression Five named "Emily" on July 11.
-- Tropical Storm Six named "Franklin" on July 21.
-- Tropical Depression Seven named "Gert" on July 23.
-- Tropical Depression Eight named "Harvey" on August 2.
-- Tropical Depression Nine named "Irene" on August 4.
-- Irene became a hurricane on August 14.
-- Tropical Depression Ten remained unnamed and offshore August 13-14.
-- Tropical Storm Eleven named "Jose" on August 22.
-- Tropical Storm Twelve named "Katrina" on August 25.
-- Tropical Storm "Lee" formed in the open Atlantic in late August, and then dissipated in early September.
-- Hurricane "Maria" is currently in the open Atlantic, and is weakening.
-- Tropical Storm "Nate" is in the Atlantic, but is not expected to threaten the United States
-- Ophelia
-- Philippe
-- Rita
-- Stan
-- Tammy
-- Vince
-- Wilma

RECORD-MAKING SEASON
-- July 5 is the earliest date on record for four named storms.
-- The already active season is helping keep oil prices high
-- The record for the most named storms in a single season is 1933. There were 21 tropical storms and hurricanes.

HURRICANE SEASON
-- Officially extends from June 1 - November 30.