美國政府氣候預報人員於8月7日表示，他們預測2008年在大西洋海灣地區會再有2個以上的風暴及颶風形成，超出5月份時所預期的數量；他們並提出警訊說，2008年颶風季的活動頻率可能異常地高。
針對8月份大西洋颶風季的最新情勢，美國國家海洋暨大氣總署（NOAA）氣候預報中心於8月7日發佈消息指出，本月颶風發生率高於正常的機率達85%，高於五月時預測的65%。
為了因應每年8月到10月間大西洋颶風季的顛峰時期，NOAA會發布颶風情勢報告，發佈內內容涵蓋了大西洋、加勒比海與墨西哥灣的颶風動向。
氣象官員表示，這一次發布的颶風發生率之所以向上調升，主要考慮到大西洋海盆中有利於颶風形成成的大氣與海洋條件，再加上稍早之前頻繁的颶風活動所致。
NOAA氣候預測中心的首席季節性颶風預測專家貝爾（Gerry Bell）博士指出：「2008年颶風活動異常升高的主要預測因素是：自1995年來，促使颶風增加的大氣和海洋條件不斷出現；另外『反聖嬰現象』的延伸效應也是徵兆之一。」
最新的颶風展望報告指出，發生14到18個風暴的機率是67%，並預估7到10個會形成颶風，而其中3到6個為強力颶風，風速在「薩非爾─辛普森颶風量級表」（Saffir-Simpson Scale）歸為3級以上颶風。
以上估計的颶風數量是到11月底前的整個颶風季期間內有可能發生的頻率，而迄今已有5個風暴形成。
5月份的颶風展望刊物指出，會有12到16個風暴，其中包括6到9個颶風，及2到5個強力颶風。而平均而言，大西洋颶風季通常會有11個風暴，而有6個形成颶風，2個發展為強力颶風。
貝爾博士解釋說，有幾個條件支持會有更多颶風成型的預測，像是亂流的次數減少、信風（Trade winds）威力較微弱、西非豐沛的雨季、自非洲吹來的風，以及大西洋過高的水溫等因素。
針對異常颶風季的另外一個預測指標是7月份的活躍程度，是從1886年以來名列第3位。但儘管如此，貝爾表示，仍有10%的機會會是正常情況，且比颶風數量比正常情況還低的機率為5%。
Government weather forecasters said today that they expect two more named storms and hurricanes to form in the Atlantic Basin this year than they predicted in May, and warned of an increased likelihood that 2008 will be an above-normal hurricane season.
In its August update to the Atlantic hurricane season outlook, released today, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center projects an 85 percent probability of an above-normal season - up from 65 percent in May.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, issues its August outlook at the start of the peak months of the Atlantic hurricane season - August through October - and includes activity over the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.
Forecasters say they adjusted their prediction due to atmospheric and oceanic conditions across the Atlantic Basin that favor storm development combined with the strong early season activity.
"Leading indicators for an above-normal season during 2008 include the continuing multi-decadal signal - atmospheric and oceanic conditions that have spawned increased hurricane activity since 1995 - and the lingering effects of La Niña," said Gerry Bell, PhD, lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.
The updated outlook includes a 67 percent chance of 14 to 18 named storms.
Seven to 10 of those storms are expected to become hurricanes, including three to six major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.
These ranges encompass the entire hurricane season, which ends November 30, and include the five storms that have formed to date.
In May, the outlook called for 12 to 16 named storms, including six to nine hurricanes and two to five major hurricanes.
An average Atlantic hurricane season has 11 named storms, including six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
Bell explained that conditions favoring a forecast of more hurricanes include "reduced wind shear, weaker trade winds, an active West African monsoon system, the winds coming off of Africa and warmer-than-average water in the Atlantic Ocean."
Another indicator favoring an above-normal hurricane season is a very active July, the third most active since 1886. Even so, said Bell, there is still a 10 percent chance of a near normal season and a five percent chance of a below normal season.
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