Most of New Jersey is under a flood watch as Tropical Storm Hanna churns up the Atlantic Coast, unleashing a barrage of heavy wind and rain, according to the National Weather Service. Reuters: Warming oceans make strongest storms stronger: study: Gustav made landfall on Monday just west of New Orleans; three more storms churned toward the U.S. mainland on Wednesday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts 12 to 16 tropical storms between June 1 and November 30 this year, with six to nine hurricanes and two to five major hurricanes.