The U.S. government has raised its prediction for the number of storms expected during the Atlantic hurricane season, citing warmer-than-normal temperatures at the sea’s surface and wind patterns conducive to storms. The Atlantic season has kicked off to a fast start, with six named storms already. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is now predicting 12 to 17 named storms as well up to eight hurricanes — two or three of which could be major — before the season ends on November 30.