NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) forecasters are once again predicting an active 2011 Hurricane Season in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

The administration issued its initial outlook late Thursday morning and is forecasting anywhere from 12-18 named storms, 6-10 hurricanes and 3-6 major hurricanes to form in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

The active outlook is due in part to the La Nina phenomenon, which is predicted to persist through the summer months. La Nina is associated with cooler sea surface temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific. During La Ninas, conditions are generally more favorable for tropical formation in the Atlantic.

Hurricane Season officially begins June 1.

For more on the 2011 Hurricane Season Outlook, click here.