(Cape Hatteras, N.C.) – It could be a busy year for hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean.

Forecasters are predicting that the next several weeks will bring the threat of more violent storms in the tropics.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its annual storms forecast Wednesday and it puts the chance for an above-normal number of tropical systems this season at 60 percent. That’s above the May forecast of 40 percent.

NOAA predicts there will likely be 14 to 19 named storms this season, including the six that have already developed.

Of those storms, forecasters expect five to nine to turn into hurricanes, with two to five strengthening further into major hurricanes with winds greater than 111 mph.

Almost all of the hurricane activity in the Atlantic happens between August and October, but hurricane season runs until Nov. 30.