The eastern US coastline faces an increased risk of storm activity during an otherwise average Caribbean hurricane season, meteorologists have forecast.

AccuWeather.com Hurricane Centre meteorologists expect 12 storms to develop in the region this year, which is around the normal average.

But warm water near the North Atlantic coastline has increased the risk a storm will develop close to land, to 1.6 times the normal probability.

Up to three storms are expected to bring tropical storm force winds to the eastern seaboard, including the possibility of one major hurricane.