Fewer hurricanes are expected across the Atlantic basin this year, Colorado State University researchers say.

They say a warming tropical Pacific and a cooling Atlantic will probably mean the number of hurricanes will be below the 1981-2010 average.

There is a relatively high likelihood that an El Nino will develop this northern summer and autumn, the scientists say.

They have also cautioned that hurricanes can still cause huge damage in inactive seasons, such as Alicia did in 1983 and Andrew in 1992.