FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Colorado State University researcher William Gray has slightly downgraded his forecast for the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season.

Gray said Tuesday his team now expects 10 named storms, including four hurricanes, two of them major.

In June, the team forecast 11 named storms, including five hurricanes, two of them major.

Gray says the forecast was scaled back because El Nino conditions are expected to intensify. El Nino conditions suppress hurricane formation.

The hurricane season runs from June 1 till Nov. 30.

This is Gray’s 26th year of forecasting hurricanes. His predictions are watched closely by emergency responders and others, but many say long-range forecasts have little practical value beyond focusing public attention on the dangers.