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At a Glance The Weather Company has increased its forecast to 17 named storms, nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes this season.

This season has higher-than-normal landfall risks in the Northeast, according to The Weather Company.

Warm water temperatures and a fast start to the season are reasons for the increased numbers.

Eight named storms have already formed this year in the Atlantic Basin.

The Weather Company, an IBM Business, has raised the number of named storms it expects to develop in its latest 2017 Atlantic hurricane season outlook, warning of "higher-than-normal landfall risks in the northeast U.S."

In its final outlook update released Tuesday, The Weather Company said it now expects 17 named storms throughout the season, including nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes of Category 3 or greater intensity.

(MORE: Hurricane Central )

This is an increase from its earlier forecasts, due to several factors:

Slightly more bullish results from computer forecast models A fast start to the season An expected burst of activity in the second half of August Forecasts for a more supportive upper-air environment in September

"Increases in tropical Atlantic sea-surface temperatures and a quick start to the season have compelled us to move our forecast numbers up from 15/8/3 to 17/9/4 in this month's update," said Dr. Todd Crawford , chief meteorologist at The Weather Company.

Tropical storms Arlene , Bret , Cindy , Don , Emily and Harvey and hurricanes Franklin and Gert – all of which have already occurred – are included in the seasonal forecast numbers in the outlook.

The updated forecast is above the Atlantic Basin's 30-year historical average (1981-2010) of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

(MORE: 2017 Hurricane Season Named Storm Pace Rivals Most Active Seasons on Record, But There's a Distinct Difference )

"We also favor higher-than-normal landfall risks in the northeast U.S. and the continued threat of more numerous 'fish' storms that re-curve out into the Atlantic (like Hurricane Gert ), with lower-than-normal risks in the Gulf," Crawford said.

The Gulf Coast is always at a high risk during the hurricane season, but a little less so this year, according to Crawford.

<img class="styles__noscript__2rw2y" src="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/trop_fcst_csu_noaa_twc_0.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0" srcset="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/trop_fcst_csu_noaa_twc_0.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 400w, https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/trop_fcst_csu_noaa_twc_0.jpg?v=ap&w=980&h=551&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 800w" > Numbers of Atlantic Basin named storms (those that attain at least tropical storm strength), hurricanes and hurricanes of Cat. 3 or greater intensity forecast by NOAA, The Weather Company and Colorado State University, compared to the 30-year average (1981-2010).

NOAA also updated its seasonal forecast in August and expects a total of 14 to 19 named storms this season, including five to nine hurricanes, warning that "the season has the potential to be extremely active."

In their final outlook update released Aug. 9, NOAA forecasters said there is a high chance – 60 percent – of an above-average hurricane season.

The NOAA team expects near to slightly above-average hurricane activity through November following the two hurricanes, Franklin and Gert , so far. NOAA also increased the forecast for major hurricanes from its May outlook, expecting two to five Category 3 or stronger hurricanes.

(MORE: Most Notorious Part of Hurricane Season )

Numbers also increased slightly in Colorado State University's final forecast issued Aug. 4.

A total of 16 named storms and eight hurricanes are expected in the Atlantic Basin, according to the CSU forecast led by Dr. Phil Klotzbach . Three of the eight hurricanes are forecast to be Category 3 or stronger on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale .

Warm water temperatures in the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Ocean, along with the dwindling chance of El Niño's development later this summer, are reasons why the forecast has steadily nudged upward.

<img class="styles__noscript__2rw2y" src="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/2017-atlantic-hurricane-season-names.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0" srcset="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/2017-atlantic-hurricane-season-names.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 400w, https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/2017-atlantic-hurricane-season-names.jpg?v=ap&w=980&h=551&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 800w" > 2017 Atlantic hurricane season names.

"A warmer-than-normal tropical Atlantic is generally associated with lower surface pressures, increased mid-level moisture and weaker trade winds, creating a more conducive dynamic and thermodynamic environment for hurricane formation and intensification," the CSU team said.

Widespread and hostile upper-level winds typically associated with El Niño will also be a no-show during the heart of the hurricane season ahead, but unfavorable winds aloft still occur at times each season in the Atlantic Basin whether El Niño is present or not.

"The chance of an El Niño forming, which tends to prevent storms from strengthening, has dropped significantly from May," according to Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.

(MORE: Where Every U.S. Landfalling Hurricane First Formed )

CSU found five years since 1950 that most closely resemble what's expected in the atmosphere above and in the waters of the Atlantic Basin from August through October. Those years included 1953, 1969, 1979, 2001 and 2004. The average of those six seasons is slightly lower than the CSU forecast for 2017.

<img class="styles__noscript__2rw2y" src="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/2017_tracks_0.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0" srcset="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/2017_tracks_0.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 400w, https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/2017_tracks_0.jpg?v=ap&w=980&h=551&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 800w" > Atlantic named storm tracks in 2017, through Aug. 17.

The official Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and runs through Nov. 30. Occasionally, storms can form outside those months, as Tropical Storm Arlene did this year. It also occurred last season with January's Hurricane Alex and late May's Tropical Storm Bonnie .

While eight named storms had already formed through mid-August, only Hurricane Franklin and Hurricane Gert were relatively long-lived.

(MORE: Where and When the Season's First Hurricane Typically Forms )

Using the ACE (Accumulated Cyclone Energy) index, a measure of tropical cyclone activity calculated by adding each tropical storm or hurricane's wind speed throughout its life cycle, Klotzbach found the 2017 Atlantic season was off to its slowest start in eight years before Franklin formed.

However, Klotzbach also cautioned that by the same ACE index measure, about 90 percent of a typical Atlantic hurricane season still remained after Aug. 9.

What Does This Mean For the U.S.?

There is no strong correlation between the number of storms or hurricanes and U.S. landfalls in any given season. One or more of the additional named storms forecast to develop this season could hit the U.S., or none at all. Therefore, residents of the coastal U.S. should prepare each year, no matter the forecast.

A couple of classic examples that show the need to prepare each year occurred in 1992 and 1983.

The 1992 season produced only six named storms and one subtropical storm. However, one of those named storms was Hurricane Andrew, which devastated South Florida as a Category 5 hurricane.

In 1983, there were only four named storms, but one of them was Alicia . The Category 3 hurricane hit the Houston-Galveston area and caused almost as many direct fatalities along the Texas coast as Andrew did in South Florida.

(MORE: Sudden-Developing Storms/Hurricanes Near the U.S. )

In contrast, the 2010 season was active. There were 19 named storms and 12 hurricanes that formed in the Atlantic Basin. Despite the high number of storms that year, no hurricanes and only one tropical storm made landfall in the U.S.

In other words, a season can deliver many storms but have little impact, or deliver few storms with one or more causing major impacts to the U.S. coast.

<img class="styles__noscript__2rw2y" src="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/2016_hurricane_season_se_coast.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0" srcset="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/2016_hurricane_season_se_coast.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 400w, https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/2016_hurricane_season_se_coast.jpg?v=ap&w=980&h=551&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 800w" > The named storms that affected the U.S. in 2016 were clustered in the Southeast.

The U.S. averages one to two hurricane landfalls each season , according to NOAA's Hurricane Research Division statistics.

In 2016, five named storms impacted the Southeast coast, most notably the powerful hit from Hurricane Matthew and its subsequent inland rainfall flooding.

(MORE: Hermine Ended Florida's Record Hurricane Drought )

Prior to that, the number of U.S. landfalls had been well below average over the previous 10 years.

The 10-year running total of U.S. hurricane landfalls from 2006 through 2015 was seven, according to Alex Lamers , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. This was a record low for any 10-year period dating to 1850, and considerably lower than the average of 17 per 10-year period dating to 1850 , Lamers added.

Of course, the record-breaking 2005 hurricane season was outside that current 10-year running total. It was also the last season we saw a Category 3 or stronger hurricane (Wilma) hit the U.S., the longest such streak dating to the mid-19th century.

(MORE: 10 Reasons the U.S. Major Hurricane Drought is Misleading )

The bottom line: it's impossible to know for certain if a U.S. hurricane strike, or multiple strikes, will occur this season. Keep in mind, however, that even a weak tropical storm hitting the U.S. can cause major impacts, particularly if it moves slowly and triggers flooding rainfall.