Insurers should get ready for an active hurricane season in 2009. Forecasters William Gray and Phil Klotzbach of Colorado State University are predicting 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes and three major hurricanes for 2009. The newest forecast lays a 63 percent chance of at least one major hurricane making landfall on the U.S. coastline. The 2008 hurricane season, which ended Nov. 30, ranks as one of the most active seasons since records have been kept, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA reported a total of 16 named storms, eight hurricanes and five major hurricanes.

December 16, 2008